Pakistan

Zardari hits upon roundtable idea

Proposal invokes divergent reactions, from outright rejection to caution.

Irfan Ghauri February 09, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

As the 45-day deadline set by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the government to meet its demands draws near, the government has come up with a novel idea to evolve a consensus among all political parties on how to steer the country out of crises.

On January 4, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had spelled out a 10-point agenda for the government to “end corruption and ensure good governance” or else its ministers would be expelled from the Punjab government.

President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to convene a roundtable conference to discuss key national issues.

Though no date has been set for the proposed conference, President Zardari has started consulting leaders of all political parties represented in parliament.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari has spoken to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asfandyar Wali, Altaf Hussain, Pir Pagara, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Dr Farooq Sattar.

Later in the night the president was also expected to talk to more political leaders, he added.

“The roundtable will try to evolve a consensus on a host of political and economic issues.”

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Zardari conceptualised the idea of convening the roundtable earlier on Monday after which the president started the consultation process.

“The two leaders discussed the forthcoming caucus of the leaders of all the political parties proposed by the president to evolve a consensus on issues of critical national importance,” Babar said after the meeting.

The two main opposition parties – PML-N and PML-Q – have voiced their reservations over the proposal, but other parties welcomed it.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, termed the idea as “a new joke and an attempt to gain more time.”

“What do they want to achieve from this conference? What issues do they want to discuss now? It is an attempt to run away from our 10-point agenda,” Khan was quoted as saying by a news channel.

PML-Q spokesperson Kamil Ali Aga confirmed that President Zardari has spoken to the Chaudhry brothers – Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi – to discuss the idea of convening the roundtable conference.

“Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told him (President Zardari) that we will respond after consulting our party members,” he added.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the PML-Q Likeminded Group, led by Saleem Saifullah, however, appreciated the idea even before the president contacted them.

“We will appreciate any opportunity that leads to collective wisdom to steer the country out of the current challenges,” Haidar Abbass Rizvi, MQM’s deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, told The Express Tribune.

On his part, Saifullah said the president should have taken such an initiative long ago, but still better late than never. “The government should make the agenda public, so that all the parties can come to the conference with fully prepared, he added. The Awami National Party (ANP) and the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, an estranged coalition partner of the PPP-led coalition government, also welcomed the idea.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.

COMMENTS (17)

Nawazish Ali | 13 years ago | Reply The government is working with PML-N to bring down expenses in other areas and reduce the budget deficit. One of the proposals by the PPP is withdrawing half of the 50 percent salary raise for government employees announced in the last budget. PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has agreed to the suggestion on the condition that this cut would be implemented across the board on the salaries of all state employees, including elected officials. This would reduce the budget deficit to 5.4 percent of the GDP, but still not meet the target of 4.7 percent. In return for the implementation of the 10-point agenda, the PML-N is expected to support the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) in parliament. Contrary to perceptions, RGST is not a new tax, but a reformed face of the existing General Sales Tax (GST). It will benefit certain sectors, while bringing others into the tax net, and gradually bring the undocumented part of the economy into the tax net. Its implementation has been long overdue, which could not be done because of resistance from political parties whose support base would be affected by the reform. While some of our economic problems can be traced directly to official mismanagement and bad decision-making, one must not ignore the context in which we exist. Even the developed countries are trying to recover from the economic recession that hit the world hard in 2009. The recent decisions taken by the government should be hailed as they augur well with the current situation of Pakistan and withdraw it from quagmire of Issues. It is time for all the political parties to stand by the government for the prosperity and strength of Pakistan.

kumar | 13 years ago | Reply This is just a way for Zardari saab to escape responsibility for his actions by claiming it is a "consensus at the round table". clever.

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Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply Politician like Nawaz Shariff, Maulana Fazl and the like minded leaders should stop givings Dead lines and threats to the Govt for the sake of being in the News but sincerely help the nation progress. 3 yrs in democracy and what have you to show for your records

shahid | 13 years ago | Reply us already dicided to cut the economic aid,i sugest all those party representative who will atend round table conference pls bring your lunch and drinks from home.lol

M Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply May be they all would like to discuss as to how and when should they all flee away from Pakistan once the Egypt and Tunisia like situation arises here.

imran | 13 years ago | Reply Two reasons for this round table 1. Get Davis released but involve all parties 2. Scuttle Nawaz Sharif 10 point agenda.

Timur Beg | 13 years ago | Reply The end of the current governement is near! Round table conference happens before the Govt falls

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply I think his idea of a roundtable and the true meaning of roundtable are different. I am sure this will be a meeting in which the discussion goes round and round and things people say will be turned on them in a feigned ignorance.....flip the conversation and points made 180 degrees and something entirely different is made of what a person has said. Something that is pervasive throughout Pakistan is the lack of critical thinking skills (or atleast the false appearance of it to ensure that discussion do not work and ideas are not accepted) and total abandonment of logic. What a person says and means, even though clearly stated, more times than not, is intentionally misunderstood (atleast I hope intentionally otherwise it is even more sad) in what seems to be a fight for dominance even though the price of dominace is looking and sounding stupid, as if the dominant one cannot understand what is being said. Logic and the welfare of everyone is overshadowed by a glutunous need to feed the ego of the most stubborn person at the roundtable....and sacrificing ones dignity is the only way to get NOTHING done. Which is exactly what will end up happening in this "round table". They will just go round and round with no one listening to the others.

sultan a khan | 13 years ago | Reply In the past we have seen many times these type of "Gol Maiz Conferences". Actually they proved as " Chor Maiz Conferences".Sultan Khan

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Is it really a Roundtable Conferencel? How much will it cost? Economic and good governance issues are not on hand. If the GoP has not cared in three years it cant be concerned now. Just look at the snail's pace at which the cabinet is being 'right sized'. Nawaz please do not give 45 day ultimatums to set the country right The GoP does not take it seriously. The real issue on hand are the statements emanating from the USA which have put everybody in Islamabad jittery. "As you sow, so shall you reap." Complete disregard for the nation's laws in matters of daily operations has led to this impasse. Start by scrapping the Kerry Lugar bill. The recent write-up by an ex foreign secretary made things very clear. Let it be said he straightened things out for me. The USA citizen must face the court of law like any cold blooded murderer and no diplomatic immunity can be granted to a wayward employee. Ms Zardari and Gillani know but now must realize that in 63 years our country has not worked towards financial security, justice and discipline. As the late Benazir used to say when Nawaz was the PM, " there is a drift in the policy". Sometimes it makes me wonder who is calling the shots, Nawaz or Zardari / Gillani? Salams for 2011 and beyond.

S. Ali Raza | 13 years ago | Reply This is the time Pakistan needs to unite and decide to say "Enough"

Aslam | 13 years ago | Reply @ Syed LOL, specifically of our kind run by personal companies called parties. But I agree with you and we do deserve it.

wahab | 13 years ago | Reply @ yaseer khan: Why are u people so sychologically against freeing Davis? Let the governments and courts decide whats best in the interest of Pakistan. We can't put lives of millions in Fata, our soldiers and economy of whole country on stake just because of one RAYMOND DAVIS.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Democracy is the best revenge

Adeel | 13 years ago | Reply another drama to let Davis go free!

Yasser Khan | 13 years ago | Reply pity the nation who call round-table conferences for releasing Raymond Davis.

Ali Turk | 13 years ago | Reply will the table be round or the discussions? unless the politicians get serious about resolving serious issues facing the country and set aside point scoring , we will get no where

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