Of protests and parleys

It's a tale of missed opportunities by both the government and the opposition. The two-day talks briefly sparked euphoria, fostering a belief that a consensus was at hand to pave the way for much-needed political stability. That belief, however, proved to be an illusion. The opposition blamed the treasury for moving the goalposts, while the government questioned the opposition's sincerity. This stalemate has unfortunately forced both sides back into rigid stances, pushing an already fragile politico-economic order into even more chaotic territory.

The 'long march' that has commenced from K-P with the intent to enter the federal capital is fraught with consequences. The government has signalled a zero-tolerance stance as the twin cities have remained highly barricaded over the last three weeks. The opposition, meanwhile, insists that its protest is to seek a lawful resolution to its grievances, most of which pertain to the implementation of the August 18 Supreme Court order. The breakdown in parleys, nonetheless, has now breached the divide, and only an act of statesmanship from either side can salvage the worsening situation.

The talks hit snags because the government – as alleged by the opposition – was unwilling to allow a meeting with the imprisoned PTI leader, Imran Khan. Secondly, the K-P government insisted that it "should be on board" regarding decisions on counter-terrorism operations in the province. But the government, the opposition negotiators claimed, was more inclined to pressure them to call off their long march as a pre-condition. Likewise, it was also mulling the imposition of Governor's rule in K-P. Encouragingly, pressure from saner elements, particularly within the PPP, compelled the government to stop short of enacting federal rule in the province.

This tension-ridden situation is not in anybody's interest. A thaw is desired, and the least that the government can do in its lawful authority is to implement the apex court order and engage the opposition in a broad-based dialogue on national issues. The PTI too will be well-advised to suspend its march and enter into talks as a gesture of solidarity. This bickering and muscle-flexing is highly undesirable.