Political dialogue stalls as government fails to follow through on PM's offer

Opposition says ball in government's court as it accepts PM's proposal without preconditions

ISLAMABAD:

Ten days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an olive branch for political dialogue, the process appears to be idling at the starting line, with the federal government yet to make any formal contact with the opposition alliance on the timing and framework of talks, casting a shadow over the seriousness of the outreach.

Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aeen Pakistan (TTAP) formally accepted the prime minister's offer on December 24, showing willingness for dialogue without preconditions. However, no follow-up engagement has taken place so far, leaving the process stalled at the declaratory stage.

Vice Chairman TTAP Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the opposition had responded to the prime minister's offer with restraint and political maturity.

He said that without attaching any preconditions, the opposition had demonstrated its willingness to engage on broader national issues, including the restoration of the 1973 Constitution, parliamentary sovereignty and the rehabilitation of the much-tarnished reputation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as well as the credibility of the electoral process.

Khokhar said the responsibility now squarely lay with the government, adding that the ball was firmly in its court. He said that if the authorities were not serious about their offer, the opposition had effectively called their bluff. However, if the intention was genuinely to steer the country out of its political and economic crisis, his party was ready to play its role in the larger national interest.

He further said that a meaningful first step from the government would be to stop creating obstacles in the appointment of opposition leaders in both houses of parliament. Without this, he warned, the government's intentions would remain questionable.

Despite the passage of several months, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has yet to notify Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Similarly, Allama Raja Abbas Nasir has not been notified as Opposition Leader in the Senate. The government, meanwhile, passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment in the absence of formally notified opposition leaders in both houses.

Against this backdrop, TTAP has declined to attend the National Dialogue Committee's (NDC) conference scheduled for Wednesday.

The National Dialogue Committee, led by former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, aims to propose a roadmap for political dialogue in the country. It is learnt that both major ruling parties - PML-N and PPP - are expected to decide on their participation in the conference on Tuesday (today).

Representatives of superior bar associations have also expressed willingness to attend.

Political analysts say the road to dialogue remains uneven, not least due to persistent divisions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the party's future political course.

One faction within PTI opposes negotiations with the government and favours renewed agitation - a strategy that has yielded little since the February 8, 2024 elections. The group believes public sentiment remains receptive to protest over the continued detention of Imran Khan, but acknowledges that weak and fragmented party leadership has left supporters without clear direction.

They argue that any forthcoming protest could prove decisive, pointing to the heightened activism of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who has intensified efforts to mobilise party workers nationwide, particularly in K-P. After Lahore, the CM is scheduled to visit Karachi on January 9.

Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, is also reported to oppose engagement with the present government.

However, there appears to be broader agreement within the party that Imran Khan has delegated authority over future political strategy to TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who accepted the prime minister's offer for dialogue after what sources describe as extensive internal deliberations.

Another section of PTI supports political engagement, arguing that the executive has effectively consolidated its hold over the judiciary, leaving little immediate prospect of relief from the superior courts.

They also point to the absence of meaningful international pressure on the government to accommodate PTI, despite it being the country's largest political party.

These voices further note that authorities have succeeded in instilling fear among PTI supporters in Punjab through sustained crackdowns, sharply limiting the party's capacity for street mobilisation.