Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has dismissed reports about the government deciding to make a “firm and final” offer to the PTI of reconstituting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and holding general elections a year earlier in exchange for the opposition party rejoining parliamentary committees, it emerged on Friday.
The alleged development was reported by journalist Muhammad Malick in his programme on ARY News, ‘Khabar Muhammad Malick Kay Saath’ on Thursday.
In the programme, Malick alleged “one or two important meetings” were held a few days ago, following which it had been decided at the “high-level” that a “final and firm offer” would be made to the PTI.
According to him, the government had decided to ask the PTI to “return to Parliament, rejoin [parliamentary] committees and participate in the parliamentary process”.
“In return, two things will happen: the entire ECP will be reconstituted and the law will be amended so that the next elections are free and fair. And more importantly, the government is ready to hold elections a year earlier than scheduled,” he said.
Malick further claimed that if this “package deal” was agreed upon, “you will see Imran’s and his associates’ legal problems easing in the coming days”.
“This is a package deal, take it or leave it,” he further said, apparently referring to the government’s stance regarding its supposed proposal to the PTI.
Malick said that according to the information he had, the offer should have been made by yesterday or the day before, but he had no confirmation of it yet.
However, Information Minister Tarar rejected these reports in a post on the social media platform X early on Friday.
“Absolutely false. I don’t know how these stories are cooked up every few days. Strongly rebutted,” his post said.
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik also termed the reports “absolutely fake news”.
“No such offer has been made whatsoever! I would urge to check again with whatever ‘sources’ you might claim to have gotten this false information from. The only offer made thus far has been of ‘talks’ between political parties and nothing else with no conditions and/or pre-conditions, hence we must refrain from stating things that are not correct!” he posted on X, also sharing a clip from Malick’s show.
However, the state minister was present in the show when this matter was discussed between Malick and PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai, who also negated the reports. But, neither was he asked nor did he himself comment on the matter on that occasion.
For, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also appeared to dismiss the reports during a press conference at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad today.
“Let me dismiss one thing before you all. It was said yesterday that the government has made an offer to us to hold elections after two years […] This is completely false […] These are all rumours,” he said without referring to any reports in particular.
He further stated that some issues related to his party, PTI founder Imran Khan and democracy were “very serious” and shouldn’t be reported on on the basis of sources.
“Kindly approach our information secretary, Sheikh Waqas, and you can surely quote him [on such matters],” he said.
