One step forward, two steps back. That was the progress so far in the long-awaited talks between the opposition PTI and the ruling coalition, but now all talks have been called off after the jailed PTI founder raided the residence of a coalition lawmaker. is given
After the raid, former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday decided that the government was being ‘non-cooperative’ and therefore had little to gain from continuing talks with it. One wonders if he was a little impatient in making that call.
After all, his party had previously announced that it would allow talks until at least the end of January, after which it would decide on its next steps. The government had also promised to respond to PTI’s written demands by January 28 and had repeatedly asked the party not to abandon the committee set up to hold talks between the two political camps.
It was, of course, a poor play by the authorities to sanction the raid on the residence of Hamid Raza, chairman of the Sunni Unity Council, who also serves as the spokesperson of the PTI’s negotiating committee. The PTI chief saw it as an attack on the negotiating committee, saying “negotiations based on bad faith cannot succeed.”
However, Mr Khan should not have let this incident detract from the bigger picture. Given the chasm between the two camps, any dialogue with the government was never going to be easy. His party has also been known to have some detractors who were unhappy with the process from the start. So it would have been better not to react to the provocation. However bitter their differences, both parties need something from each other if they hope to retain a stake in the country’s political future. They should have stuck to the process.
Perhaps there is still a chance to save the negotiations. Although they have ended the talks, PTI founders still want a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents. Given the government’s confidence and conviction in its stand, it does not make sense for it to delay the matter further. It should have independent arbitrators investigate the facts so that these chapters can be closed and the country can move forward.
There is a dire need for all national leaders to act consciously if they want the future of the country to be good. The failure to resolve their differences through political means has caused much damage and yet the temptation to look to the ‘third umpire’ seems far from over. A mutually acceptable solution must be found so that administrative powers are returned to the people, where it belongs. The status quo is not sustainable.
Published in Dawn on January 25, 2025.
