After having reached an amiable consensus over a new chief election commissioner, the country’s two largest political parties are now said to be planning to open talks for bringing in a caretaker setup to oversee general elections. Both are said to want fresh parliamentary polls to be held within this year.
Much is at stake – if the proposed negotiations between the governing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) succeed, the outcome is likely to be the first civilian-to-civilian transition in the country’s history.
“We are on it… by and large it is our resolve to make sure that the transfer of power is smooth,” a top government official told The Express Tribune on Tuesday, requesting anonymity.
The new resolve for cooperation follows the finalisation of Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim for the slot of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) by a 12-member bipartisan, bicameral parliamentary panel. Ebrahim was chosen under a mechanism outlined in the 20th Amendment, approved earlier this year. The same amendment also elaborates upon the procedure for handing over powers from an elected government to a caretaker setup.
Insiders in the PML-N were more willing to offer details of what the two parties have already agreed on. One PML-N leader said the two parties would hold talks in two phases. The first phase would involve only the PPP and PML-N; the second, other groups from the ruling alliance and opposition.
The provinces question
PML-N insiders also said the opposition party would push for appointing new governors in all four provinces ahead of the polls because they can influence the elections, although their powers have been reduced in the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Currently, three of the provinces have governors who are members of the PPP — Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan— while in Sindh the slot has been given to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a government ally.
“This situation may not be acceptable for us… we will like to see it change ahead of polls,” a PML-N official said.
The PML-N also wants the ruling party to be clear on one particular issue – the question of who will play the role of the opposition in Sindh and Balochistan, neither of which have an effective opposition. The question remains vital because, according to the formula agreed upon under the 20th Amendment, there has to be an opposition to propose names for the leaders of a caretaker government.
In the 2008 elections, the PML-N was unable to win a seat in either Sindh or Balochistan. “This is what we want clarified in the first phase of negotiations,” said PML-N deputy Information Secretary Khurram Dastgir Khan.
Second phase
Insiders said the two parties also had differing opinions on how they should involve other parties into the second round of talks. Officials said the government negotiators are in favour of giving them a direct role in the talks while Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali wants their involvement be more indirect.
He proposed that the PPP should separately take its allies into confidence, while the PML-N would talk to opposition groups in and outside parliament. Nisar, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and Ishaq Dar are likely negotiators for the PML-N while the PPP team is expected to be led by Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Ahmed Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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PML and PPP are two sides of the same coin. What do you expect from them one has ruined the country the other is trying to get in power to do the same. Both are intellectually bankkrupt.
Well done PMLN, they played as not popular but responsible opposition party...
Democracy is not a science formula, it is a system which require an years of hard work & continuity to achieve long term goals, however that will be difficult to understand by PTI baby boys...
I believe Pakistan people are reasonable and well meaning. It has contradictions and I believe will be resolved in time. It is an irony that democracy was not allowed for a long time. Political leadership carries lots of negativity. We easily see it is corrupt face, because it is accountable to us. Can we ask questions to military leadership? Isn’t it the irony of a system that judiciary of Pakistan never questioned a military rule. It always validated them. We in India have corrupt leaders; we’ll devise ways to set them right. It will take time. The role of military is to defend the country. Why did court allow military officers to appear in court over ruling civilian Government? The first job is to keep army under civil rule. If the humanity has to move forward please fight against poverty, illiteracy, gender bias, disease etc. A healthy, educated and well informed society will always take right decisions.
Good news from Pakistan , i think since the judicary has played a vital rule uptill now the Ex judges should be made Governors in all the 4 provences and lets have a free and fair election God Bless Pakistan
Are these two parties only stake holders? The process must involve all parties, its Pakistan's future which is at stake not that of Sharif's or Zardari'.
People praising PMLN here for not resigning have no clue what they have done to them in last 4 years. This nation has very short term memory.
Dear Umair, this is not samjhota express. This is wisdom. Samjhota Express is being run by Imran Khan with PPP and MQM. If PML(N) resigned on the advice of immature Imran, the condition would be worse today.
Governors of all the Provinces must be changed to ensure the free and fair elections. For caretaker set up opposition outside the Parliament must also be consulted.
Good table story, keep it up Zia Khan.
Samjhota Express is on track :)
Its nice to know that Chief Election Commissioner is decided unanimously by both big parties. Nawaz Sharif acted quite wisely as PML(N) did not resign from assemblies as demanded by inexperienced PTI. Allah bless Nawaz Sharif.
Wise decision of Nawaz Sharif for not resigning from assemblies. Imran is an immature politician who was insisting for PML(N) resignations.
Taking parties not present in the parliament into confidence is as important as taking the ones present in the parliament. Otherwise there will be another chaotic phase in our history.
real time for change, N made good decison not to resign from assemblies, thanks to PML-n
Lets hope and pray to Allah this happens the way it should be, lets behave like a mature and responsible nation.
Whole Nation thanks PML(N) for not resigning from assemblies. It stayed in the assemblies inspite of PTI and other Tonga parties pressure and is now able to play a vital role in country's democratic future.
Only the Fair & Free elections can led farward. The peaceful transition from one elceted Govt. to other would be a mille stone in the history of Pakistan. Appointment of Fakhir-ud-Din G. Ebrahim as Chief Election Commissioner show that both the parites are sincere in Free & Fair Election. Now the ball would be in the court of Massess/People of Pakistan that how wisely they use their right of vote.