Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:06 am
As the political situation turns increasingly dicey in Pakistan, the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led PPP has shown readiness for talks with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on the condition that the PTI chief leads the charge to come to the negotiating table.
PPP Positive, Upbeat Over Possible Dialogue
Welcoming the prospect of talks, senior PPP leader Khurshid Shah said in a conversation with media persons in Quetta: “It is being said that the PTI founder is ready to talk.
History of Negotiation within PPP
Shah drew attention to the long history of the PPP’s commitment to solving problems through dialogue and referred to such efforts by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Political Instability and Calls for Reconciliation
The openness of PPP towards dialogue comes at a time when the political temperature has been running high since PTI adopted a hard-line stance against the ruling PML-N government. The PPP is in alliance with MQM-P and other allies to support the PML-N-led government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The ruling PML-N has already conceded all demands put forth by the PPP concerning the federal budget and the development fund.
The PTI has emerged as one of the most vocal critics against the PPP-PML-N alliance since the fall of Khan through a vote of no confidence in 2022. The rift became all the more pronounced after the February 8 elections following which these parties combined to form a coalition government.
Neutral Mediation Called for
Since then, various political and social segments have appealed to the PTI to hold talks with the government. In the recent past, PTI was more keen on holding negotiations with the military establishment rather than the coalition government. In April this year, PTI’s Shehryar Afridi proposed the negotiation offer to the then-Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and DG ISI. Later PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub said that Imran Khan had given key responsibilities to former President Dr Arif Alvi in this regard.
Recent Developments
Last month, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar confirmed Khan had given the go-ahead for talks with the government. In an interview, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan urged state institutions to remain impartial to facilitate the country’s progress.
Response of Government
The government has also called upon PTI for dialogue. More recently, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik expressed, “If you want to remove us then do it. You don’t want to resolve issues but to further complicate them.
The PPP has expressed readiness to open a dialogue with Imran Khan, which precedes the chances of easing the current turmoil in Pakistan. The readiness of the two sides to hold talks may open ways toward stability and progress in the country.