Experts underscored the pivotal importance of political dialogue, stressing the paramount need for political stability within the nation.
They advocate for the establishment of a renewed "Charter of Democracy" among politicians, urging for a commitment to refrain from aligning with undemocratic forces in the future.
"Our politicians talk about the rule of law, the Constitution, and Parliament's importance, yet no political party or politician truly embraces it," remarked Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, during the talk show "Experts" on Express News.
Supporting his argument, Hussain referenced the historic Charter of Democracy between PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
Hussain pointed out that during the PPP government, in the memogate case, Nawaz Sharif gave his shoulder by appearing in court against the PPP government.
Hussain also scrutinised the motivation behind the ousting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, citing Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who confessed to orchestrating the no-confidence motion of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Read more: Sanaullah requests Nawaz to take helm of PML-N amidst internal strife
“These politicians aligned themselves with undemocratic forces, resulting in the overthrow of a democratic government,” he added.
Hussain also questioned the legitimacy of PTI's rise to power, noting concerns raised by multiple parties regarding electoral conduct and alleged rigging, leading to the removal of Nawaz Sharif.
He contends that the PTI, like other parties, now champions the rule of law and constitutional supremacy only after exiting power and facing scrutiny.
Highlighting the necessity for a new charter of democracy, the senior journliast stressed the importance of all political parties uniting and pledging not to support undemocratic forces for the sake of political stability in the country.
Ayaz Khan, Group Editor of Daily Express, remarked on the recent statement by former interior minister Rana Sanaullah, expressing concern that despite such principles, politicians often invite undemocratic forces to intervene in the political system.
Expressing reservations about Imran Khan's approach, Khan asserted that inviting the establishment to interfere in the political process is misguided. He believes that in the current scenario, finding a solution to the problem requires collaboration among politicians.
Khan concurred with Sanaullah's assertion that Nawaz Sharif would be open to dialogue with Imran Khan, speculating that Nawaz Sharif's core narrative revolves around non-interference by the military in political affairs.
He remarked that Nawaz Sharif might still adhere to this stance if asked, suggesting the possibility of future collaboration between Sharif and Khan.
Emphasising the importance of politicians leading governance autonomously, Khan stressed the significance of politicians working together harmoniously for the betterment of the nation.
Express News Bureau Chief in Islamabad, Amir Ilyas Rana, asserted that Nawaz Sharif visited Imran Khan's residence in Bani Gala in 2014 for dialogue, suggesting that Nawaz Sharif has never viewed discussions negatively.
He expressed scepticism regarding the effectiveness of the committee established by the opposition to negotiate with the government. He voiced uncertainty about the unity of the opposition following their meeting with Imran Khan, questioning whether their solidarity will remain intact.
Rana alleged that the formation of PTI was orchestrated to obstruct the progress of democratic forces following the Charter of Democracy pact between the two major parties.
Faisal Husain, the Karachi Bureau Chief for Express News, refuted Rana's claim, stating that Nawaz Sharif did not visit Bani Gala for negotiation purposes. He questioned whether Imran Khan, at that time, would have agreed to diminish the role of the establishment, emphasising Khan's alleged reliance on the establishment’s support.
He posed critical questions regarding the upcoming talks among political parties, pondering whether parties are genuinely open to forgiveness and moving beyond past grievances for the nation's greater good.
Faisal argued that Imran Khan's engagement with the army was not misguided, as dialogue with Nawaz Sharif might not yield significant results when the army held the solution to the problem. He believes negotiations can only be fruitful once politicians adopt a certain mindset.
Express News Bureau Chief in Lahore, Mohammad Ilyas, characterised the current political climate as a pivotal moment, noting the government's inclination towards dialogue and seeking agreements like the Charter of Democracy.
Ilyas emphasised that PTI is realising the necessity of collaboration, observing that stakeholders are inclined to work with PTI to address challenges.
However, he acknowledged the government's reluctance to relinquish power and PTI's concerns about damaging its reputation, requiring serious consideration to resolve this dilemma.
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