Political troika!

Listen to article

A broad-based political reconciliation is a must if the country has to step back from the brink. With Pakistan's governance genesis being parliamentary in essence, an indiscriminate participation of all political forces is desired. After prolonged trial and tribulations, especially in the last two years, it is good to hear from a PML-N stalwart, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah that talks should take place between Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Imran Khan for ending the reigning stalemate on way to reviving true democracy in the country. Sanaullah's gesture is appreciated, and one hopes he has the consent of his party at his disposal, as he has minced these words. The good point is that after long last, the recognition that Imran Khan and his party too should be part of the solution is a welcome development, and the initiative must see the light of the day.

Huddling of political bigwigs in the form of an All Parties' Conference has been a constant, but has lacked the mandate to overcome deep-rooted fissures. Likewise, the august forum of parliament to this day has fallen short of political space to muster the courage to reflect people's will. In such a depressed backdrop, the only breakthrough that our divisive political culture had witnessed was the 2006 Charter of Democracy signed between Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in London that set the ball rolling in returning the country back to constitutional rule.

Sanaullah, and his likes, are right in espousing a new political order wherein a new power political troika of PTI, PML-N and PPP joins heads to chart a new course of history, for an assured political thaw. With PTI and the coalition government already in talks, Sanaullah's ingenuity can make inroads if incarcerated former PM Imran Khan is released, and all the three leaders kick-start a sustained dialogue on a single-point agenda of restoring rule of law and constitution. Pledging never to opt for any extra-legal measures and agreeing to disagree in national interest is the way to go.