UK envoy to meet political bigwigs for 'timely, peaceful' general elections

The top British diplomat in Pakistan has scheduled a series of meetings with political bigwigs to urge “timely, inclusive and peaceful elections” — slated to be held on February 8.

The British High Commission confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday that Jane Marriott is going to hold meetings with the main political parties across Pakistan — including in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi — as part of routine engagement in the coming weeks.

During the meetings with the heads of the political parties, she will discuss a range of issues including UK-Pakistan bilateral ties, the economy, and the importance of timely, inclusive, and peaceful elections.

Detailing her meetings held with top politicians, the communique said that the British high commissioner interacted with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now-former chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in Islamabad. She also met leaders from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Karachi.

In Lahore, she met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif — the three-time ex-premier.

The meeting was also attended by former prime minister and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Senior Vice-President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, PML-N Chairman Election Cell Senator Ishaq Dar.

She is likely to hold separate meetings with leaders from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as well.