Opposition's political jirga to hold talks only with party heads, says JI chief

The Jirga appealed to all stake holders to take its recommendations in consideration while finalising the agreements

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said early on Friday that in order to make talks meaningful, from now on, the Opposition's political Jirga will hold negotiations only with party heads, Express News reported.

Haq, who heads the jirga,said that one of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) biggest demand has been met as not one but two cases have already been registered against the prime minister. He added that a majority of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand have also been met and hoped that an agreement could be reach between government and protesting parties in another round of talks.

Earlier, the Oppositions political jirga composed of senior parliamentarians from the opposition benches, revealed a proposal to end the political impasse between PTI, PAT and the government.

According to the draft proposal available to The Express Tribune, the jirga had urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to reaffirm his statement on the floor of the parliament that he would resign from office “if systematic rigging is proved and if it is established that he became the prime minister as a result of such rigging after the inquiry by the proposed Judicial Commission.”

The statement by the premier may also become part of the agreement between protesting parties and the government.

In order to resolve PTI’s demands, the jirga proposed that the Judicial Commission shall be constituted by issuance of an ordinance under Article 89 of the Constitution which would be specifically mandated to probe any fraud, forgery, misuse of powers or abetment resulting in rigging of elections.

The commission shall have the authority to not only refer the matter for taking cognizance to the concerned authority but also to direct the concerned police stations for registration of criminal cases.

The recommendations of the commission shall be binding on all the parties, including federal and provincial governments. The draft further proposes that they may acquire the services of any police official, local or foreign consultants for investigation and forensic analysis.

The commission will have the power to seize any record. The timeframe for investigation may be mutually agreed by all parties.

The jirga also recommended the release of PTI workers detained by police.

In its appeal to PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, the Jirga proposed that in light of past precedent, the investigation of Model Town incident can be transferred to any other province from Punjab in order to ensure an independent and fair investigation. JIT for the cases shall be constituted, comprising of officials of ISI, MI, Special Branch and IB while officers from the government of Punjab and Punjab Police shall not be included.

It further said that a judicial commission shall also be constituted to determine the involvement of federal ministers, prime minister and Punjab chief minister in Model Town incident, if it is considered appropriate and within the ambit of the Constitution.

The proposal also urged government to finalise its decisions on other demands of PAT and PTI.

The jirga appealed to all stake holders to take its recommendations in consideration while finalising the mutual agreements.