Govt, Opp to resume backdoor contacts: sources

Both sides deny having held behind-the-scene dialogue

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to resume contacts with the federation after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif invited the former ruling party for talks.

After former prime minister Imran Khan's formal approval, the PTI will hold talks with the coalition government. The talks will focus on electoral reforms and other issues. In this regard, PTI may soon form a negotiating committee.

These talks will be behind-the-scenes in the first phase. If no positive outcome stems out of the first phase, there will be no formal dialogue later.

Negotiations depend on the government and the PTI adopting a cool political policy for the future.

Sources said that behind-the-scenes contacts were taking place between the federation and PTI even before the sit-in. Some important personalities were playing a key role in these contacts, they added.

These behind-the-scenes contacts eased some of the political tensions between the government and the PTI, they further said.

Read: Imran’s election ultimatum just a ‘face-saving’ attempt: Maryam

Sources claimed that due to the situation in the country, Imran changed his political strategy for the time being and postponed his intention to hold a sit-in and he returned back with an ultimatum. After this, Prime Minister Shahbaz made an offer for talks to the PTI.

Sources said that behind-the-scenes contacts between the federation and PTI would further intensify, and once Imran approves, various issues will be discussed with the ruling coalition.

The government will formally invite the PTI to return to the National Assembly (NA) after the talks begin.

Sources said that these benevolent political and other coordinating personalities of the country have asked both of them to remain calm in political affairs and resolve issues through dialogue. Therefore, the political atmosphere on both sides is already looking cool, and negotiation committees will be set up soon by the PTI and the government, they added.

In these behind-the-scenes contacts, an attempt is being made to find a middle way in the matters of elections.

Also read: Imran gives 6-day ultimatum to govt for announcing elections

PTI sources said that if there was further progress in behind-the-scenes contacts, the PTI could reconsider its ultimatum and adopt another protest strategy.

Government sources said that the date of general elections cannot be announced immediately.

If formal talks are held with the PTI, then the coalition parties will decide on their future political strategy.

A PTI leader dismissed the notion of behind-the-scenes talks with the government. The government too denied having held any talks with the PTI, saying that it is their own policy to not allow Imran to hold a sit-in.

“We cannot say anything on the ultimatum of PTI,” a government source said.