ISLAMABAD:
After months of political deadlock, the federal government and the opposition alliance established their first formal contact on Friday in a bid to kick-start the negotiation process, signaling a tentative shift from confrontation to compromise.
Federal ministers and Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai met Prime Minister’s Advisor Rana Sanaullah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in Parliament.
Senior leaders of the PML-N urged the opposition to advance political understanding and dialogue.
According to sources, the Prime Minister himself will respond to the points and conditions of the opposition agenda. Sources further said that Achakzai will present his concerns and reservations directly to the prime minister. He has also expressed his desire to meet the founder of PTI.
Opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai confirmed the development to The Express PAkGazette, stating that the meeting focused on confidence-building measures and preliminary discussions on the expected meeting between the prime minister and the opposition leader, including its agenda.
So far, he said, this is just a preliminary discussion and more progress is expected on Monday.
A positive tone was observed on the part of the government. Akhunzada Hussain added that the prime minister and the opposition leader could also meet on Monday.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Public and Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has repeatedly renewed the government’s call for dialogue with the opposition.
The opposition’s latest response came after its call on Monday during a Senate session, where it invited the opposition to hold talks and “strengthen and advance” the Charter of Democracy.
Sanaullah said the government was willing to engage in dialogue that would strengthen democracy instead of seeking confrontation and stalemate.
