Senior PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said that the party could return to the lower house of parliament if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a date for general elections.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial suggested that PTI should ask its legislators to return to parliament because voters had given them five years to represent them.
On Thursday night, Adil Shahzeb interviewed Qaiser, who said the PTI had not considered or deliberated on returning to the NA.
“We believe that the present regime should not stay in power.”
Qaiser inquired whether he could stand the current electricity bills. He asked whether he could bear living in a world where the anchor had no power.
He said that the economy was the biggest challenge at the moment. Even if you negotiated a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), look at where the dollar was going, he said, adding that petrol prices were also increasing.
Qaiser said he would like to return to parliament, but he would need Prime Minister Sharif to make the proposal and promise to call for elections.
When there is requirement for legislating or passing amendment in regard to election reforms, the PTI chief would also be in favour of the party rejoining the NA, the former speaker said.
The PTI is prepared for electoral reforms, he said, adding that they need to decide on an election date and the end of assemblies first.
“A period of elections must not be too long.”
Qaiser believes the option of having the KP and Punjab provincial assemblies dissolved is still alive.
He said that some party members think that taking this option is a good idea, while others are against it and the discussion is going on.
He said whatever would be done would be within the constitutional limits. He shed light on a possible PTI march.
He said the economy was in “shambles” despite having entered an agreement with the IMF, and that the performance was “zero”. “Look at the economy and where the dollar is headed,” he said. He was referring to the increase in petroleum products in the Persian Gulf country despite their dropping worldwide.
The former speaker said that the government was “too weak” due to the multiparty alliance to deal with the disaster of the economy, the floods, and other issues. “They have to consult on every decision they are about to make,” he said.
