AFTER its Core Committee meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the ruling PTI wisely announced formation of a Committee headed by Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak to engage with JUI(F), which has declared its intentions to march on the federal capital late this month. However, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has instantly rejected the proposition of talks saying that there can be no such contact sans resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The decision of the Government to engage with Maulana politically has been widely hailed by saner segments of the society. This is a clear departure from the earlier strategy adopted by the ruling party that was mostly focused on administrative measures to deal with the political threat, a posture that was unlikely to yield any positive result if experience of the past is an indication. It was all the more important to note that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who announced decision of the Core Committee, said that the Government was ready to listen to Maulana Fazlur Rehman and if a reasonable solution emerges it would be given priority. The change of mind on the part of the Government apparently came after Islamabad High Court delivered a landmark balanced judgement on petitions challenging the proposed march of JUI(F) observing that the state should protect the rights of protesters and the rights of those who do not want to protest. The court held that the state only in extraordinary and exceptional circumstances can restrain a person from exercising his or her right to protest on the ground of national security. Under these circumstances, it is hoped that both sides would avoid use of force and ensure that the protest is held strictly in accordance with the directions given by the court. JUI(F) should also review its stance of not engaging in talks with the Government till resignation of the PM, a condition which is understandably unacceptable to the Government. Talks should be preferred by both sides as instability and confusion would retard prospects of any economic recovery, which is need of the hour.
