Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday failed to reach consensus over 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill and the composition of interim set up, it has been learnt. Both the parties will meet again on Tuesday (today) to hammer out the differences on the issues.
According to sources, PPP and PML-N could not made any headway in Monday night's talks, as PML-N was stuck to its demands of impartial caretaker set-up as well as appointment of non-controversial Election Commissioner for extending its help to pass the constitutional amendment.
The major contention of PML-N is that setting up of an impartial interim set-up and appointment of non-controversial Election Commissioner must be made part of the 20th Amendment. On the other hand, PPP is of the view that 20th Amendment is exclusively pertain to Election Commission and if PML-N wants interim set up be made part of the constitution it should table 21st Amendment in the House.
The government side led by Federal Religious Minister Syed Khursheed Shah held talks with opposition led by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, while PPP-Sherpao Chief Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rahman participated in the talks.
Opposition especially PML-N reiterated its demands that it would extend its support to the proposed constitutional amendment provided the government hold out assurance to complete the ECP, appoint a non-controversial Chief Election Commissioner and set up a caretaker set up by taking opposition on board for holding next general elections. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told media that his party was not in favour of giving extension to the sitting Chief Elections Commissioner, as he was very close to President Zardari. He said that deadlock persists on caretaker set-up.
He said that all the opposition parties were on the same page viz-a-viz the constitutional amendment bill and called for making it more meaningful by incorporating all the issues. Khursheed Shah said, "there remained certain issues on which consensus is required to move forward for the passage of the amendment bill." Earlier in the day, Syed Khursheed Shah talking to the media had claimed that government and opposition evolved consensus over the amendment.