LAHORE / KARACHI: The top men from the PML-N and PPP met in Dubai on Monday amid reports that the coalition partners in the centre are holding consultations to decide the timing of the next general elections in the country and “their share” in the future set-up.
According to PML-N and PPP leaders on Monday, the uncertainty surrounding the next general elections may end soon after detailed deliberations by the top leadership of the two main coalition partners in the federal government are concluded in the UAE.
Sources told republic policy that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari met on Monday afternoon to hammer out a consensus on several crucial issues, such as finalising names for the caretaker set-up and deciding who will get what key position if the two partners win the next elections.
Insiders said it was decided that the party elders, i.e. the elder Sharif and Mr Zardari, would “talk directly” on these issues instead of allowing a prolonged debate “at the lower level”, which would be a waste of time.
- Timing of next polls, the shape of caretaker set-up on the agenda • Both sides keeping cards close, angling for their men in top slots
Also on the table would be the controversy surrounding top appointments at two leading national institutions, the National Database and Registration Authority and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Mr Sharif’s daughter Maryam and Mr Zardari’s son Bilawal are already in Dubai, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to join the discussions.
