Amid the federal government's announcement of its intention to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and take action against party leaders under Article 6, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to take its ally, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), on board.
A meeting between the two sides is scheduled for today at the President's House.
After the Supreme Court's decision to allocate reserved seats to the PTI, the government has mobilised itself and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated consultations with allied parties.
Leaders of the PML-N will meet PPP leadership to discuss the matter. According to sources, President Asif Ali Zardari will participate in the significant meeting at the President's House.
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The ruling party has formed a committee for consultation, represented by Ishaq Dar, Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazeer Tarrar, Atta Tarar, Irfan Qadir, and Ahad Cheema. Attorney General Mansoor Awan will brief the coalition party regarding the case.
Representatives from the PPP, including Farooq H. Naik, Sherry Rehman, and Nayyar Bukhari, will participate in the talks. The PML-N leaders will also brief the PPP on the issues of banning the PTI and imposing Article 6 on three of its leaders.
On July 16, the government decided to ban the PTI for which it said it intended to submit a petition before the Supreme Court. This was announced by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in a press conference.
Also Read: PML-N, PPP to hold talks on Punjab's administrative affairs today
"Looking at the evidence, the government will request a ban on the PTI," Tarar declared, adding that the federal government had decided to ban the party and file a petition for it in the Supreme Court.
He cited the foreign funding case, so-called cipher from the US, alleged sabotaging of the previous IMF program, an anti-Pakistan resolution in the American Congress as "clear evidence" for the decision.
On the other hand, the PML-N-led government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will hold talks today on the administrative affairs of Punjab as well.
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The negotiation committees from both parties are scheduled to meet at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad at 5pm.
The government side will be represented by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Prime Minister's advisor Rana Sanaullah will also be part of the government's negotiation committee.
The PPP delegation will consist of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Hasan Murtaza, and Nadeem Afzal Chan.
The negotiation committee has summoned the Punjab chief secretary and the inspector general of police to participate in the discussions.
The agenda includes reviewing the decisions from the previous meeting on Punjab's administrative matters and assessing the progress on implementing these decisions.
