ISLAMABAD:
Opposition groups appealed to the government on Monday to engage in dialogue with protesting parties immediately in an effort to resolve the current standoff.
Jamaat e Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq called upon the national leadership to show maturity and end the crisis as soon as possible. The party had called a meeting of opposition parties, which was attended by Khursheed Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party’s Zahid Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s Akram Durrani, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Samiul Haq and other smaller parties.
The participants welcomed the Supreme Court’s offer to play its role in resolving the situation. Siraj said all parties stand united to protect the constitution and democracy but they wanted the government to consider the genuine demands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek, whose supporters have stormed buildings in the federal capital.
After a series of meetings with the government and PTI, Sirajul Haq, along with PPP’s Qamar Zaman, had devised a formula, under which both parties accept the formation of a neutral commission to probe the rigging allegations. If these allegations were proven, the assemblies would be dissolved and fresh elections would take place.
Under this formula, the government, at the highest level, should publicly commit that it would obey the results of the commission, which would have powers of giving a verdict instead of recommendations, the JI chief explained again. All parties represented in parliament should sign this agreement as guarantors, he said.
According to Siraj, PTI chief Imran Khan had also promised to consider the proposal and discuss it with his party. However, developments of the past two days changed everything.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2014.
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