ISLAMABAD: Amid ongoing legal developments fueling political uncertainty, Pakistan People’s Party Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari announced on Sunday that his party is prepared for new elections should Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decide to dissolve the National Assembly.
Bukhari’s comments come as frustration grows within the federal government, highlighted by its muted criticism of the Supreme Court’s delay in delivering a detailed verdict on reserved seats. This situation threatens the ruling coalition’s two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, according to political analysts.
“If there is a risk,” Bukhari stated in an interview with a private news channel, “then the Prime Minister should consider dissolving Parliament and calling for new elections.”
He also criticized the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership for not disclosing potential threats to the PPP, despite their role as a major coalition partner.
Bukhari expressed willingness to support the ruling party but emphasized that the PML-N must perform effectively. He also accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan of being unreliable, noting his frequent policy reversals. Bukhari pointed out that although Imran Khan had previously shown openness to negotiations with the establishment and authorized senior politician Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate, he later retracted his commitment.
Bukhari reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to constitutional supremacy and stressed that all solutions should be constitutionally derived. He warned of severe consequences if the current system is disrupted.
The coalition government faces mounting concerns following a Supreme Court ruling that reinstated PTI’s representation in national and provincial assemblies. Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar expressed worry over the delay in the detailed verdict and called for discussion on the dissenting note of two judges from the court’s July 12 ruling.
The dissenting note, authored by Justices Amin-Ud-Din Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, raised significant issues that Tarar believes should be addressed. The Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate PTI members has led to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notifying 39 PTI Members of the National Assembly and 93 lawmakers in provincial assemblies. Following partial implementation, the ECP has sought further legal guidance from the Supreme Court on the remaining PTI members.
In response, the PML-N and its ally PPP have filed review petitions challenging the Supreme Court’s majority ruling.
