ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and government negotiators on Friday held out hope that a settlement can be reached after the weekend as there has been a significant progress in developing terms of reference (TOR) for judicial commission. PTI chairman Imran Khan who called off his anti-government sit-in in wake of the Peshawar tragedy, had demanded the government to immediately form a judicial commission for holding a probe into vote rigging in the May 2013 general elections.

The PTI team headed by vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the government side represented by finance minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting to form a judicial commission and develop TORs for the commission to start an investigation into vote rigging allegations.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Shah Mehmood Qureshi: “The points on which we’d agreed last time were endorsed by both sides.” Qureshi said there has been a significant progress on preparation of TORs – a major issue that remained a bone of contention between the two parties.

“So far so good and after the weekend we’ll be in a position to give you a good news [and] only an independent election commission could ensure a free and fair election in the country,” declared Qureshi.

Ishaq Dar – a close aide of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said they have reached very close to a solution to the problem.

In present circumstances when the country is facing myriad of issues, he said the government is making all-out efforts to resolve the issue. “We’ll share the final draft of the TORs with all parliamentary parties,” he added.

This was the third round of talks between the two sides. The talks also dealt with the formation a judicial commission to investigate vote rigging allegations.