LAHORE:
As confusion over the talks continues and a deadline for civil disobedience looms, both the government and the PTI on Friday appeared to be tiptoeing towards a possible compromise, although a cloud of uncertainty remained over the nature of the dialogue.
While the PTI warned against confusing the formation of a dialogue committee with a “surrender” or a “dialogue”, stressing that it was nothing more than a “compromise”, the government, while noting progress in the coming days , clarified that no guarantees could be offered. about which demands would be accepted and which would not.
The Prime Minister’s lawyer on Law and Justice, Aqeel Malik, confirmed on Friday that the government was preparing to form a committee to negotiate with the PTI. The members of this committee were expected to be announced over the weekend.
Speaking on a private news channel, Malik confirmed the creation of the negotiation team, saying: “We were waiting for the prime minister to return from the D-8 summit.”
He added: “We are preparing our own committee and we are going to seek contributions from our allies so that they are reflected [in the decision-making]. “I hope this committee will be formed tomorrow or at the end of this week.”
Although Malik did not name specific members of the committee, he indicated that it would include “senior government leaders” and “senior government allies.”
He said the president of the National Assembly was willing to host meetings between the two negotiating teams. “I think it will be beneficial for the committees to meet in the president’s chambers to set the terms and the agenda,” he said.
Reacting to the PTI’s threat of civil disobedience, Malik said the PTI “cannot coerce the government on one side while inviting it to negotiate with the other.” “If you want to negotiate, then you have to cover everything.”
Regarding tensions with coalition ally PPP, Malik dismissed any notion of animosity. “The PPP is not angry with us and we are collaborating with them,” he said. He went on to say, “Ishaq Dar chairs a committee aimed at addressing the PPP’s concerns.”
According to Malik, the committee had already submitted an initial report and was scheduled to meet with the PPP on December 24.
‘No guarantee’
On the other hand, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said it would have been impossible for the Prime Minister to act without the support of both the PML-N and the establishment in inviting the opposition to the negotiations.
Sanaullah, speaking to a private news channel, said: “The PML-N is in favor of resolving political issues through dialogue.”
He said that if the PTI had formed a committee and the president was willing to facilitate, negotiations could continue, but warned: “There is no guarantee that we will agree to anything, we have our own stance, and so do they.”
He also mentioned that the prime minister and the president had already met and that the committee “to be announced in a day or two” would likely go ahead.
When asked about the lack of contact between the negotiating parties, Sanaullah explained: “We don’t need them to contact the government, but there is a neutral office that is open at all times. As far as I know, the PTI committee is contact that office.”
Sanaullah emphasized the importance of dialogue, citing historical examples of successful negotiations, such as with Maulana Fazlur Rehman over the madrassa registration bill. Asked about the impact of the £190m case against Imran Khan on the negotiations, he said the issue was separate from the talks. “It’s not in our hands, it’s in the courts,” Sanaullah said.
“It should not affect the talks; it is a completely separate matter. Political dialogue should take place.”
‘Commitments’ not ‘meaningful dialogues’
Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram rejected reports suggesting that the party had refused to enter into talks.
Speaking on a private news channel, Akram said, “If the concerned sectors form committees, we can show it to Imran Khan and he can take a decision.”
When asked if the PTI had contacted the NA president, Akram replied in the negative. “If Sadiq’s office is open, why would we contact her? If anyone wants to speak to the committee, they can contact us.”
He also clarified the distinction between “compromise” and “meaningful dialogue,” saying: “Compromise happens all the time. This is how we secured the Sangjiani venue for our rally. But this is not the same as political dialogue. Our demands are not be fulfilled in this way.”
