ISLAMABAD: Ruling allies have hit snag over holding talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, sources said after Jamaat-e-Islami’s bid to bring both sides to negotiation table. Coalition partners an alliance of 13 political parties in Pakistan Democratic Movement met here after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened meeting on country’s political situation and JI’s negotiation efforts.

During meeting, disagreement took place among parties in coalition government over holding talks with opposition party as some believed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan could not be trusted, while others insisted that political forces should not shut channels for negotiations.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stressed holding dialogue with opposition, with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Balochistan National Party, Balochistan Awami Party, Chaudhry Salik and Mohsin Dawar backing him, sources said. PPP Chairman said closing door for talks is against his party’s principles and “Undemocratic”.

“It is need of hour that path of dialogue be adopted and country taken out of crisis,” Bilawal said. But representatives of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Jamhoori Wattan Party rejected Bilawal’s opinion and said that it isn’t in coalition’s interests to hold talks with Imran Khan. “Imran Khan isn’t political force we oppose holding dialogue with him,” JUI-F opined, while JWP’s Shahzain Bugti said that his party did not oppose talks but “Imran is liar”.

Bugti added that PTI Chairman is “Untrustworthy”. Meeting ended without reaching consensus on matter of holding dialogue, sources added. Meanwhile, Bilawal called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Bilawal apprised premier of his ministry’s affairs. Two leaders discussed country’s political situation during meeting. Meanwhile, majority of participants rejected conditional talks with Imran Khan, saying that negotiations can be held on elections but not on cases registered against Imran Khan. Sources claimed that meeting ended without reaching consensus on matter of holding dialogue.

Recently, Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had formed committee to engage with allies in coalition government to reach consensus on dialogue with all political parties. Three-member committee includes former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani, Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and SAPM Qamar Zaman Kaira.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 19 2023

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