PML-N won't table trust vote motion

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday decided to drop the plan of moving vote of no-confidence against the prime minister in the National Assembly as well as long-march to remove the government on the suggestion of other opposition parties that held meeting to finalise modalities for 'grand opposition alliance.'
Leadership of various opposition parties in and outside the parliament held a long consultative meeting with PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif at Punjab House to thrash out joint strategy against the government. They agreed on a five-point agenda to step up pressure on the government for holding early elections under a neutral caretaker set up.
On Thursday, PML-N announced various options to get rid of the present government including moving no-confidence motion, en-bloc resignations from assemblies as well as launching a mass movement at the conclusion of day long party's central working committee and parliamentary party's meeting presided over by Nawaz Sharif.
Sources said that other opposition parties have convinced PML-N leadership to withdraw the options for the sake of uniting opposition parties that would take the proposals to their parties for final approval to design future line of action to achieve the agreed objectives.
Besides, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and leader of opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the meeting was attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Jamaat-i-Islami leaders Qazi Hussain and Professor Kurshid Ahmed, PPP-Sherpao's chairman Afteb Ahmed Sherpao, Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party's leader Hasil Bazenjo, Jamat-e-Ahle Hadith's leader Professor Sajid Mir, PML-Q (like-minded) leaders Salim Saifullah Khan and Gohar Ayub.
At a briefing following the meeting, PML-N deputy secretary general Ahsan Iqbal informed the media that the leadership of various opposition parties agreed to work jointly on a five-point agenda. Elaborating the agenda, Ahsan said that that all opposition parties had expressed concerns over the government's confrontational policy with the state institutions, who were unanimous that the present political situation was precarious and steps should be taken to defuse it. Secondly, he said, they agreed that democracy should continue at all cost and no undemocratic move would be accepted.
He further said the political leadership agreed that holding an early elections was the only solution to the present political and economic problems of the country. Ahsan said that the meeting expressed resentments over the government reluctance to implement the Supreme Court's verdicts.
He further said that all the leadership also agreed that there should be an independent election commission for holding free, fair and transparent polls. He said that though members of the ECP had been appointed with consensus, the process could not be completed without appointment of Chief Election Commissioner with consensus.
Finally, he said that the participants also agreed that there should be a neutral caretaker set up for holding free and fair elections. He said that it was a consultative meeting of the opposition parties and another meeting would soon be held in which a road map would be chalked out. To a question, he said that it was necessary that the process of new electoral rolls should be completed at the earliest for holding elections.
Meanwhile, talking to media Qazi Hussain Ahmed said that they were not in favour of any unconstitutional step aiming at removing the present government. "Military should not indulge itself in politics at nay cost," he added. He also urged all the stakeholders to show restrain. He said the meeting of the opposition parties was meant for mediation on the national issues. He further said that holding an early elections in the country was inevitable.