Deadlock persists as PTI calls on PM to resign 'for 30 days'

Govt, PTI agree on all point but one; PTI says they do not want a national govt, or for the incumbent govt to dissolve

ISLAMABAD: A deadlock persisted in negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to find a solution to the current political impasse on Saturday as both parties agreed on all but one point: the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

During the third round of negotiations, the PTI came up with a fresh proposal for the premier to resign for one month, while the a judicial commission investigates whether or not the 2013 general elections had been rigged – a 15-month-long claim of PTI chief Imran Khan.

In an address to the nation on August 11, just three days before Imran and PAT’s Tahirul Qadri began separate marches to the capital, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, adhering to Imran’s earlier demands, requested the Supreme Court to form a three-member commission to probe the 2013 polls. The apex court is yet to respond to the official request.

The PTI chief, however, rejected the proposal at the time, calling for the immediate resignation of the premier.

On Saturday, however, Imran’s party stated that fresh elections should be held if rigging is proved by the judicial commission. According to reports, the disagreement was only over one point, whereas the other proposals were agreed upon.

“We had come with a reasonable proposal and now the ball is in government’s court,” PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, while addressing the media following the talks. “It is up to the government whether or not they wanted to engage in talks,” he added.

“If it is proved that there had not been rigging in elections, then the prime minister may resume [his position after a month],” Qureshi said. “Otherwise, there should be fresh elections under an independent Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).”

On the other hand, Punjab Governor Muhammad Sarwar, who is part of the government’s negotiation team, said that they had not given up yet and would continue their efforts to engage in talks with the PTI.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Qureshi acknowledged that the government had accepted their demand of setting up a judicial commission to investigate rigging.

According to the PTI leader the investigations would be held subject to some conditions, which include the prime minister’s resignation in order to carry out free and fair investigations and the appointment of ‘non-controversial’ heads for NADRA, ECP secretary and the FIA. Further, the party demanded that the commission hold daily hearings and complete the investigation in 30 days. Additionally, findings of the commission should not be in the form of recommendations rather it should issue directions to parties concerned, Qureshi added.

The PTI also demanded that FIRs be registered in the Model Town clashes case, as per the findings of the Lahore session judge.

Qureshi  said that this way the government and cabinet will remain in place. In the 30-day period, "a supreme judicial council" can be formed and do its work, he said.

He went on to day that they do not want to derail democracy, underlining that they are not asking for a national government ot for the government to be dissolved.

“We do not support imposition of martial law in the country,” he added.

“We have come [for talks] with sincerity, keeping in view the interest of the country but it seems that they (the government) wants to destroy everything to save one person,” Qureshi said.

 

Government’s view

Addressing the media, the Punjab governor said, “We could not agree on one issue.” Further, he added that they have agreed to appoint a new ECP secretary, along with new heads for NADRA and FIA as per PTI’s demand.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that government side was ready to find a solution under the law and with the Constitution.

Rejecting PTI’s demand for the premier’s resignation, he said all political parties except the PTI in Parliament have unanimously passed a resolution rejecting Prime Minister Nawaz’s resignation. The Senate has also passed the resolution despite the fact that PML-N does not have majority in the Upper House, he added.

Talking about allegations of rigging, Iqbal said, “We have told the PTI that it was a hypothesis and we are ready to introduce reforms but there was no justification for the resignation of PM.”

“We agreed that a Supreme Court judicial commission should investigate and if it is proven that there had been organised rigging, there should be new elections,” Iqbal said.

“We accepted every reasonable demand of the PTI,” he added.

Talking about the electoral reforms, Iqbal said that they had even proposed that a sub-committee of experts be setup which would prepare a working paper for the purpose.

However, the minister also said that the PTI’s demand was contradictory as on one hand, they were asking for the prime minister’s resignation while on the other, they are saying that the assemblies, government and federal cabinet should remain intact. “It seems the PTI wanted to punish the entire nation to fulfill the obstinate demand of its chairman,” he said.