THE recent contact between the Shehbaz Sharif government and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is being hailed, emphasizing that genuine reconciliation cannot be achieved through coercive measures. Political reconciliation is an excellent gesture, and it should be the pathway through which the country can extricate itself from the quagmire in which it is trapped. No one can be brought to the reconciliation table by force. On one hand, meetings have been taking place, and on the other, CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur was summoned by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in an assets case, and a petition was filed against the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Despite so-called election engineering manipulation post-elections, when it appeared PTI was emerging on top, was also done. If the government expects one party to be abused and still be approachable for reconciliation while the government does not show flexibility on its part, then reconciliation might not be possible. The PTI was being told to focus on their province and not bother with other issues. A functional relationship between PTI and the government is possible, however, reservations regarding the political approach of Imran Khan be reserved. The meeting between KP chief minister and the Premier is a good start and a breakthrough of sorts. I think this working relationship will have to be built upon and the PTI should maintain the relationship with the federal government. The importance of flexibility from both sides to advance the negotiations be realised. Government’s decision to ban meetings with Imran is under criticism. This might be an attempt to hinder Imran Khan’s ability to finalise Senate candidates.
The positive signals from the government have the importance of reciprocal responses from Sunni Ittehad Council. The CM KP Gandapur’s meeting with Shehbaz was a pressure on Gandapur as he has been summoned by the ECP. Individuals affiliated with Sunni Ittehad Council initiated a campaign in the US aimed at halting GSP Plus benefits for Pakistan. Following Sunni Ittehad Council’s communication with the IMF, the information minister conducted a comprehensive news conference, highlighting the exceptional treatment being afforded to Imran, including privileges unprecedented in Pakistan. The meeting between Gandapur and the PM is conducted through intimidation. It is a welcome change. The solution lies in negotiation. Progress will be made when Imran engages with Shehbaz not with the state. The day that reconciliation and talks are done, will be remembered. If the Sunni Ittehad Council is being intimidated, the hands of the PML-N are not free either. A working relationship has to be established as the province has to receive the NFC fund and royalty from the federation.
In an ice-breaking development, Gandapur has described his interaction with Shehbaz as positive. He had requested the PM to lift the ban on visiting Imran and other prisoners in Adiala Jail. Imran has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail over a host of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism. Earlier the authorities placed a two-week ban on any visit to see Imran Khan. Gandapur requested the premier to lift the ban on visiting Imran because he had to discuss the upcoming Senate elections with the PTI’s founder. Shehbaz accepted his request and permitted him to meet with Imran in jail. Gandapur asked Shehbaz Sharif to politically engage with Imran Khan. Such an engagement between Shehbaz and Imran will lead to a political solution. This was Gandapur’s first meeting with the prime minister. Talks were held on the law and order situation as well as other public issues. Shehbaz had assured Gandapur that all the KP’s dues would be cleared. Would the two sides keep their promises? He also asked the officers to give a timeline that was possible and what can be done within it.
Shehbaz had promised Gandapur that the dues of the province would be cleared by the federal government. He had also issued instructions to address the difficulties, including gas and power outages, faced by the people in KP during Sehr and Iftar times. He had ordered the formation of a joint team of the Centre and KP to work with the federal government to resolve the issues of the province. Everyone has their own politics, but the state belongs to all. In the meeting that lasted for over an hour, Gandapur demanded the appointment of a new Chief Secretary in his province and the release of its funds. He wanted Shahab Ali Shah as the new KP Chief Secretary. The meeting between Shehbaz and Gandapur is not being seen as an attempt at reconciliation between the top two political rivals in the country, the PML-N and PTI. I am sure Imran Khan and Gandapur have initiated dialogues with Premier Shehbaz Sharif only to avoid probable disqualification of Gandapur in the 735 kanal undeclared land case and to secure funds under the guise of a reconciliation process, thereby burying its narratives based on corruption against PMLN and PPP top leaderships. The Shehbaz-Gandapur meeting is a negation of PTI’s baseless narratives against the PMLN and PPP leaderships.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
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