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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has called for political tolerance, saying political rivalry is a normal part of democratic politics but differences should never turn into personal or political enmity. Addressing a PML-N meeting in Murree on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said he was surprised by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) objections regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. He noted that the PPP had previously been in power in AJK and said the political situation that emerged during the elections was a matter of concern for all political stakeholders. Nawaz said the situation had developed because previous governments had failed to properly fulfil their responsibilities. He stressed that political parties should respect democratic differences and avoid creating an atmosphere of hostility. The PML-N president said his party had always treated its political opponents with respect. He urged all political forces to demonstrate patience and tolerance and keep political disagreements within the limits of democratic debate. Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N had secured a simple majority after the first two phases of the AJK elections. The party has won 24 seats, while the PPP has secured 10 seats in the first two phases. The third phase of the election process is yet to be completed, with final results expected after the remaining polling process. Nawaz expressed confidence that the PML-N would form the government in AJK. He said the party would work to fulfil the commitments made to voters during the election campaign. He congratulated PML-N leaders and workers on their electoral performance and appreciated their efforts during the election campaign. Nawaz Sharif called for maximum financial resources to be provided to Azad Kashmir. He said improving the lives of the people and accelerating development should remain the government’s top priority. He claimed that the people of AJK were looking towards Punjab for development and better public services. Nawaz said development work had been initiated during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure in Punjab and later expanded under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He pledged that the PML-N would seek to replicate its development model in AJK. “The way we transformed Punjab, we will transform Azad Kashmir as well,” Nawaz said, while stressing that failing to deliver on promises made to voters could result in public disappointment. The PML-N president also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team for their efforts to address Pakistan’s economic and administrative challenges. He said the government inherited an extremely difficult situation but was now working to improve the country’s overall position. According to Nawaz, economic conditions were gradually improving and efforts were underway to put Pakistan on a stronger and more sustainable footing. He said the government was also seeking to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and move the country towards greater economic self-reliance.

Debate over the possibility of holding a national referendum has resurfaced in Pakistan, prompting discussions among political observers and constitutional experts about the legal framework governing such a move. Although the government has made no official announcement regarding a referendum, speculation in political circles has raised questions about when and how a nationwide vote can be conducted under the Constitution. Constitutional experts say Articles 48(6) and 48(7) of the Constitution empower the prime minister to propose a referendum on a matter of national importance. Under Article 48(6), the prime minister may refer such a proposal to a joint sitting of Parliament. If approved by the joint session, the matter can be presented to the public through a referendum in the form of a “Yes” or “No” question. Article 48(7) further provides that Parliament may legislate the procedure for conducting a referendum and determining its results. Legal experts note that, unlike a constitutional amendment, such legislation does not require a two-thirds majority and can be passed through a simple majority of members present, provided the quorum is complete. The renewed debate has also revived interest in the history of referendums in Pakistan. The concept first gained prominence during the political crisis that followed the March 7, 1977 general elections. Opposition parties, united under the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), rejected the election results, alleging widespread rigging. They later boycotted provincial assembly elections and launched a nationwide protest movement demanding fresh elections, dissolution of assemblies and the resignation of then-prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Despite mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, negotiations between the government and the opposition failed, and the political deadlock culminated in the imposition of martial law by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on July 5, 1977. Following these developments, constitutional provisions allowing referendums were introduced through the Seventh Constitutional Amendment. Pakistan’s first referendum was held on December 19, 1984, during General Zia-ul-Haq’s rule. While the public was asked to vote on the continuation of the Islamization process, a “Yes” vote effectively extended Zia’s presidency for another five years. Official results declared overwhelming support for the proposal, though opposition parties questioned both the process and the outcome. A second nationwide referendum was held in April 2002 under General Pervez Musharraf. The exercise enabled him to secure another five-year presidential term before the general elections later that year. After the 2002 elections, Musharraf was formally elected president by an electoral college comprising Parliament and the four provincial assemblies under the framework established through the Seventeenth Constitutional Amendment. Political analysts say recent discussions intensified after comments made during a media briefing by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), whose carefully worded responses to questions on constitutional matters drew public attention.