Opposition jirga presents fresh proposals to resolve political stalemate

In letter to PM, jirga makes a list of recommendations, including reaffirmation by PM to step down if rigging proved

ISLAMABAD: The opposition jirga presented on Friday fresh proposals to resolve a sticking point in negotiations — ‘the definition of rigging’— in an effort to break the ongoing political stalemate in Islamabad.

On  Thursday, the jirga tested the government’s flexibility and proposed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announce, in advance, that he would quit if a judicial commission proves ‘systematic rigging’ in the May 2013 elections.

Members of the opposition jirga, after deliberation on the definition of rigging, gave a new way forward to deal with the ongoing political logjam by setting ‘terms of reference’ for the proposed judicial commission. It suggests that the commission should investigate:

a) Pre-election rigging

b) Election day rigging

c) Post-election manipulation

d) Role of the caretaker government setup in rigging and fixing the responsibility

e) Role of the Election Commission of Pakistan in the rigging

f) Any conspiracy wherein PML-N/Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif found guilty of the said rigging

g) By-product of the said rigging, which is federal/provincial government

The jirga members, whose only role is to facilitate all three stakeholders, sent a four-page letter (comprising the new proposals) to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the protesting parties -- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) -- on Friday.

“It is a proposed that both parties (PTI and the government) may agree to a reasonable timeline to complete the investigation under the Constitution,” the letter stated.

The jirga also suggested that all those workers and leaders of PAT who were arrested after June 23 be released with immediate effect, according to the letter.

Members of the jirga also observed that the PAT had been negotiating with the government and waiting for a written confirmation by them, but unfortunately the talks failed because of the arrest of a member of PAT’s negotiation team.

The demand for national reforms should be met in letter and spirit, and as agreed, a national reforms council, headed by a renowned experience dignitary with impeachable integrity and with the mutual consent of the PAT and the government, be constituted with immediate effect, added the letter.

The jirga already proposed a way forward on the issue of the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and further suggested in the letter that the issue can be dealt with amicably if Shahbaz reaffirms his earlier public statement in the Punjab Assembly.

“He (Shahbaz Sharif) will resign as the Punjab chief minister if proven guilty by a joint investigation team (JIT) constituted as part of mutual agreement between the PAT and the government,” stated the letter.

The core issue between the three stake holders is the demand for the premier's resignation by PTI, and the Punjab chief minister's resignation by the PAT, jirga members stated.

It also recommended that further political cases against the PAT and the PTI workers should not be registered to avoid harming the process of negotiations.

“Keeping in view the above, the jirga has already proposed a detailed way forward in its previous appeal to deal with the issue of the resignation of the prime minister, whereas new proposals to deal with the resignation of the Punjab chief minister are also placed on record for your consideration,” the letter recommended.

Finally, the jirga appealed to all three stakeholders to conclude their respective mutual agreements based on the proposals given by the jirga as part of facilitation, and their own bilateral negotiations, with the government’s team, enabling all three stakeholders to resolve the issue in the larger interest of the nation without further loss of time.

A copy of the letter can be viewed below: