Grand dialogue a must

PTI's offer of a national grand dialogue is worth appreciating and must pave the way for addressing the lingering political instability. The onus, however, is on the coalition government to take the extra few steps towards extending an olive branch to the opposition. That, of course, entails providing them with their due political space, letting the law take its course without any coercion in deciding the pending litigations, and subsequently releasing political prisoners including Imran Khan. That is neither an impossible task to attain nor an ill-advised route to undertake if reconciliation is to be ensured in the larger national interest.

The point is that all previous attempts to talk it out could not see the light of day because of preconditions from both sides. Thus, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja's call for a huddle involving all political parties, the security establishment, civil society and other stakeholders is an opportunity in disaster to move forward. The roadmap should be to restore the confidence of the masses in Parliament, establish the writ of the law and undo the discrepancies that have undermined the supremacy of the judiciary.

This time around, PTI's call for talks carries a spirit of adaptability. It has categorically said that it will "not talk to the powers-that-be" and at the same time will not "compromise" on constitutional rights. This is a departure from its earlier stance, as the party was adamant that it would only talk to those who matter, derailing all attempts for a political dialogue. As this initiative has come on the eve of a proposed street agitation marking the third year of the PTI chief's incarceration, it should lead to some ice-breaking, causing the political mercury to come down.

PTI, TTAP and the government would be better advised to make their positions clear and let a grand rapprochement set in. The evolving regional situation marred by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has made life miserable for commoners due to the resulting rise in oil prices. Moreover, a spike in terror incidents is further crippling the situation at home. The country cannot afford political bickering anymore.