AS things are speedily moving to a point of no return, it is appreciable that a group of civil society organizations, called Mediators, is making sincere efforts to help resolve the conflict and all patriotic people hope all sides would seize this opportunity in the greater interest of the country. Over 100 civil society organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists (PFUJ), have sent invitations to all political leaders to attend the proposed multi-party conference and they ought to respond in a positive manner, if they truly believe in peaceful resolution of the lingering crises that affect all aspects of national life.
As for the government side, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly offered dialogue to the other side despite the hard stance adopted by one of the important coalition partners – JUI(F) – which opposes any talks with Imran Khan. Several federal ministers have also been extending similar offers to the opposition in the hope to reduce the prevailing political tension in the country. However, there are conflicting responses from the opposition PTI which need to clarify the situation as dialogue has become an utmost necessity in the given situation when political and constitutional deadlock is assuming new dimensions with the passage of every day. According to some reports, the PTI has expressed its willingness to attend their proposed multi-party conference (MPC) and support constitutional amendments relating to polls if elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not possible within the constitutional time frame of 90 days due to the worsening security situation and financial constraints. This is an important development that indicates flexibility in the otherwise hard stance of the party on the issue of timely elections of the Punjab and KP assemblies. The stance is in line with the universally accepted policy of give-and-take in politics as even complicated issues can be sorted out through this spirit. However, remarks made by former Prime Minister and Chairman PTI Imran Khan have cast doubts about the exact position of the party as far as the possibility of dialogue is concerned. In an interview, he has, once again, reiterated his known position not to sit with the opposition for talks himself. He has also attached a condition to the possibility of a delegation of his party representing PTI in the dialogue process saying if the agenda of such a moot was elections alone. In fact, no political party is against elections and there are differences on the issue of their timing because of the economic and security situation of the country. These differences can definitely be sorted out as assemblies are about to complete their tenure and elections will have to be held after their dissolution. In a related development, Amir Jamat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq has pointed out that elections in two provinces would not solve problems, announcing he will contact all parliamentary parties to develop consensus on general elections. He needs to coordinate his efforts with the Mediators as the end objective remains the same.
