The decision pleasantly shocked both sides of the aisle while the opposition benches welcomed it as the welcome U Turn, the hawks within the ruling party expressed their displeasure.
Fawad Chaudhry, whose job as the Information Minister also serves as the spokesman of the govt, contradicted the decision publicly that he still wanted the speaker to disallow the decision. Another federal minister Amir Mehmood Kiani on a TV channel expressed his disapproval of the decision.
On the assembly floor when Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced the decision, the Information Minister tried to speak up and take the floor but Qureshi asked him to sit quiet.
Sources within the party told Naya Daur that Shah Mehmood Qureshi supported by doves like Pervez Khattak, Ali Mohammad Khan and Chaudhry Shafqat Mehmood prevailed over Imran Khan to change the decision.
PML-N has agreed that Shehbaz Sharif will not preside the PAC session in which the audit paras of the PML-N govt will come under discussion.
Shehbaz Sharif in an exclusive video interaction with Naya Daur appreciated the decision and termed it good for democracy. Shehbaz Sharif told Naya Daur that the objection over NAB accusation was flimsy as the NAB investigation also included PM Imran Khan in helicopter case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwRj146vpTg&t=3s
“There are at least six bills pending with no committees formed due to the standoff. Shah Mehmood succeeded in persuading Imran Khan that the standoff increased instability he couldn’t afford”, said a PTI source.
Shehbaz Sharif was very conciliatory after the announcement and even supported the Charter of Economy, a position earlier presented by Ishaq Dar as the finance minister.
PTI govt also expects a quid pro quo in Senate where the party is absolute minority. No legislation can take place without the Senate on board.
Does it mean that going forward all will be good between the government and the opposition is a farfetched notion but the decision is a mild forward movement ending the deadlock on mutually agreed legislation. The end of the stalemate, however, has strengthened doves in both the treasury and the opposition for the time being.