THE media was abuzz with reports that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has imposed pre-conditions for talks with the government on the issue of holding elections to the national and provincial assemblies. It was claimed that the former ruling party wanted withdrawal of all cases against its Chairman and workers, return of PTI’s MNAs to the National Assembly and nomination of its candidate as leader of the opposition.
Attaching pre-conditions to the process of dialogue would certainly complicate and pollute the environment, therefore, it would not be a wise approach to do so. Otherwise too, JI Amir Siraj-ul-Haq, who is spearheading campaign to bring the two sides on the negotiating table, has clarified that Imran Khan mentioned his difficulties during a meeting with him, but he did not put any condition of withdrawal of cases against him for the initiation negotiations with the government on the issue of elections. This augurs well for the prospects of talks as time is running out for reaching an amicable solution of the prevailing political and judicial deadlock. PPP and ANP too have become active proposing an APC for 03 May but it is not clear they want an APC of their own or want to supplement the one being hosted by the JI leader. Leaving this aspect aside, it is a good omen that almost all parties are realizing the importance of immediate dialogue to sort out differences and with this in view they should also exercise restraints as far as issuance of hostile and provocative statements are concerned as they pollute the environment for talks.
