PM's talks offer

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's willingness to enter into talks with the opposition is a welcome move, but has stopped short of crossing the finish line. His utterance, subsequently, that his government will not "entertain any blackmailing tactics" has spoiled the initiative, encouraging hawks to sharpen their knives. The least that the ruling dispensation must exhibit is its writ over the state of affairs, and prove that it is sincere for a breakthrough with the PTI and the six-party opposition alliance that has laid out its demands in toto.

The stipulation is an independent probe into the allegations of rigging in the 2024 general elections, release of all political prisoners, appointment of an impartial chief election commissioner, and holding of free and fair polls. Incidentally, many of the PML-N stalwarts are in favour of reconciling with the opposition too. If that is the case, then the minimum required is release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and kick-starting parleys for drafting a new 'charter of governance' leading to a transparent ballot.

The stalemate and the soaring instability is rapidly turning into an existential threat, and does not bode well for the civil edifice. The economy is in the woods and all efforts to rope in investment have fallen short of expectations. The fact that there wasn't even a single foreign aviation bidder for PIA is a case in point, and hints at inbuilt weaknesses in the system infected with corruption and credibility crisis.

The opposition, notwithstanding its wish-list, is divisive and has not come up with a united narrative on the strategy to go ahead. The PTI's politburo is clueless on the prospects of talks with hardliners seeing no utility in it. They cite repressive measures and repeated denial of the audience with Khan as the government's ill-will.

Mehmood Ackakzai, however, believes that talks could only be 'meaningful' if the incarcerated leader is on board. That waywardness is in need of some fine-tuning so that it asserts the due pressure for a rational way out. The onus rests with the ruling coalition to exhibit largesse through CBMs, and get talking.