Pressure from allies seems to have worked, as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has backtracked from early elections, according to sources.

PDM allies PPP and JUI-F have made it clear to the PML-N that they will not accept early elections.

Even inside the PML-N, multiple leaders including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq were not in favour of early elections.

According to reports, discussion about the elections had come up in the meeting between President Arif Alvi and Ishaq Dar. Sources said that the president had even offered Dar that the government could presenta budget and hold elections in July.

However, when Dar informed PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and other PDM allies about the offer, they refused.

The PDM allies were reported to have said that the elections could be ‘pushed ahead’ but by no means be called early. Many in the PDM consider the president’s offer to be a way to get face saving for Imran Khan.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been calling for early elections since his ouster in a no-confidence vote in April. He has even announced that he will dissolve assemblies in Punjab and KP, where PTI holds majority.