PTI’s Senator Ali Zafar has said that PTI Chief Imran Khan allowed and instructed party leaders to hold dialogues with political parties only to ensure timely elections in the country.

“If any party wants to stand with us and work for timely elections, then we will work with it. We will work together with them on this single point agenda and nothing such as negotiations and alliance,” he told Munizae Jahangir on Spot Light on Monday.

Senator Zafar said that the suspension of PTI Chief Imran Khan’s conviction has ended his disqualification and he will be able to contest upcoming polls.

“As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, under the Supreme Court judgment in the Panama case, he is disqualified for a lifetime. Sharif is also convicted in another case. As long as these two judgments are in place, he cannot contest elections,” he added.

The PTI leader raised concerns over the delay in the written decision to assign its electoral symbol Bat, despite the party holding intra-party elections on the ECP orders.

JUI-F’s Senator Kamran Murtaza has said that PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar has referred to Article 254 of the Constitution during his today’s address due to a guilty conscious.

“If you think about Article 254, it means something wrong has been done and you are requiring condonation. The article is to be used in compelling time not when you violate [constitution] in routine and then use the article in your defence,” he said.

For him, it was the mandate of the president of Pakistan to give a date for elections, however, he failed to do so.

“The Election Commission and ministry of law are also wrongly interpreting Articles 48 and 57 of the Elections Act. The plain language of the [Constitution] says that the president had to give an election date after the national assembly was dissolved,” Senator Murtaza said.

PML-N’s Senator Afnan Ullah Khan said that he was sure elections would be held in January next year.

“After changing the law to a five-year disqualification from a lifetime, Nawaz Sharif is now qualified to contest elections. He will be evicted of charges in Al-Azizia and Avenfied cases and will contest elections as our candidate for the post of prime minister,” he added.

He said that PML-N will have to join other parties in their struggle for elections if they are delayed for an indefinite period.

Senator Khan ruled out the PTI chief’s participation in the election, saying that Khan was convicted in the Toshakhana criminal case and stands disqualified.