ISLAMABAD - Although both PPP and PML-N denied formal contact on formation of caretaker government for holding of next general elections, but there is a general consensus among both the major political parties in the Parliament to engage in consultation on working out a plan for the smooth transition of government both at Federal and provincial levels.
Sources in Pakistan Muslim League-N denied any formal contact with the government on the issue of formation of caretaker set-up and ahead of schedule elections, but made it clear that demand of early elections came from their leadership sometime back as they considered that PPP had failed to deliver and a fresh mandate is necessary. On the other hand, PPP was of the view that they were toeing the policy of consensus and reconciliation and referred to the recent appointment of Chief Election Commissioner wherein the PPP had graciously picked up a candidate from the list of candidates forwarded by PML-N to the 12-member Parliamentary Committee handling the matter. A senior PPP leader on condition of anonymity said that PPP wanted to engage main Opposition party PML-N in a dialogue for appointment of caretaker set-up for which a formal consultation between the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in NA is mandatory.
PML-N sources confirmed to The Nation that no formal contact regarding the consultation on caretaker set-up and holding of early elections was made so far but did not rule out the possibility of meeting on the subject in the coming days especially after the return of PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif from his foreign tour in next couple of days.
These sources further said that Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan was also in UK and would be returning in the last week of this month or early next month after which something concrete on this front could transpire.
On the other hand, the people close to PPP said that the ruling alliance was not averse to negotiations on any issue with PML-N or any other Opposition party and said that PPP wanted to workout roadmap for next general elections in consultation with all stakeholders.
These sources further said that even Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in his public statements has invited Opposition for formal talks on all issues including formation of caretaker set-up but there was no mention of holding of early elections in his statements. The Secretary General PPP Senator Jehangir Badr minced no words while stating that elections would be held as per schedule on completion of the mandated term of PPP. Sources in government informed that PPP has shown olive branch to PML-N by picking up one of their nominee as Chief Election Commissioner and now they would try to engage them in negotiations on the formation of caretaker set-up just to ease pressure expected to come on the ruling coalition from apex judiciary in the coming days.
 But the sources in PML-N made it loud and clear that their cooperation with government would be only for a consensus caretaker set-up and they would not accept any attempt on part of rulers to intimidate or even browbeat the superior judiciary.
A leader belonging to one of the coalition partners of the ruling PPP said that the engagement of PPP-PML-N in connection with the caretaker set-up would be aimed at forestalling any move from some ‘third force’ to wrap up the incumbent political dispensation, which no political force in the country wanted.
He further said that it was also wrong impression that PPP wanted forced removal of their government as a result of clash with the superior judiciary because their stakes in the system are much more than any other political player and referred to their strength of 41 in the Upper House of the Parliament, which they could lose in case of some third party intervention.
Similarly, PML-N and other political players in the national politics including PTI are all opposed to the intervention of some third force and that was the reason all of them wanted continuity of the incumbent political dispensation and smooth transition to the next government, as none of them is ready to forego their stakes in the system. After the passage of 20th Constitutional Amendment, the Prime Minister in consultation with the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly would appoint a consensus caretaker Prime Minister and in case both of them failed to evolve consensus within three days time the matter would be referred to the eight members committee having equal representation from Treasury and Opposition in the National Assembly would be constituted by the Speaker and Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition would forward two names each to the committee which would again take three days time to evolve consensus and in case the committee would also fail to reach at consensus on any one of the four names then the matter would go to Chief Election Commissioner who would announce one name from the four names given to the committee within two days time.
The same practice would be repeated in case of provinces where the Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the respective Provincial Assemblies would engage in the same practice.