Aimed at easing the ongoing political tensions, much-awaited talks between the government and opposition’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began Monday, a government representative confirmed to The Current.
According to the official, a high-level committee comprising senior members of the coalition government was formed by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, days after PTI founder Imran Khan also formed a committee reflecting the party’s realisation that its policy of confrontation could no longer be continued.
The government committee included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan and Chaudhry Salik Hussain, reports said.
While the PTI is yet to call off its currently postponed civil disobedience movement, government continues to say that any negotiations won’t bear fruit if they take place under pressure.
The PTI’s committee for talks comprises Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, senior PTI leader Hamid Khan and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, whose party has been agitating for several months now, called the committee’s formation a constructive step and said that meaningful dialogue based on positive intentions should be held.
The meeting, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar and MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar.
PTI, on the other hand, was represented by former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, in today’s session.
Omar Ayub, Salman Akram Raja and KP CM Ali Amin Khan Gandapur were among PTI leaders who couldn’t attend the meeting.
The gathering witnessed the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by prayers for the betterment of the country and the success of dialogue before officially commencing the negotiation process, reports said.
Addressing the participants of the meeting, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the Prime Minister’s initiative to resolve issues through dialogue.
He assured attendees that his office would always remain open to them and that the Speaker’s Secretariat would provide all necessary support in this regard.
Emphasising that progress could only be achieved through negotiations, Sadiq urged the forum to move forward with an open heart to advance the dialogue process.
“I will strive to remain impartial and provide the required support,” he stated, adding that the success of the talks ultimately depended on the committees representing both the government and the opposition.
“We are working to ensure the success of these discussions and to bring political stability to the country,” Sadiq concluded.
While details of the meeting have not yet been released, the second round of talks has been scheduled for the first week of January.
Last week it was reported that significant progress had been made as the government, PTI and the establishment had all acknowledged the need for dialogue.
Nawaz, who had previously rejected the possibility of talks with the PTI along with his daughter and Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, now showed willingness to negotiate with Khan, reports had quoted a senior PML-N leader as saying.
A high-level backchannel meeting, a separate report claimed, was also held between the government and the PTI.
It quoted sources as saying that the meeting was attended by two important players of the government, including a minister and another official, whereas the PTI was represented by a key party leader.
On the outcome of the meeting held last Wednesday, the report added, PTI would have to choose whether it wished to continue with the politics of agitation and confrontation or it really wanted reconciliation.
Similarly, reports said, the government and the establishment must recognise that the PTI remains a popular party, and it cannot be eliminated via continuous conflict.
Both sides will have to compromise, reports had quoted a member of the government as saying. “The PTI must recognise the government’s mandate and abandon its immediate demand for elections, while the government must step back from its efforts to exclude Khan from politics.”
