Govt-PTI deadlock: Shah proposes mediation for talks

Opposition leader says representatives from other parties can help

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has once again proposed that representatives from other political parties mediate talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to help break the gridlock.

“If a delegation of representatives from other parties is allowed to take part in these talks, it would be possible to ascertain which of the two sides is not serious about negotiations,” he told a news conference on Wednesday. Shah added that his party – the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – is willing to nominate a representative for such a delegation.

The government and PTI had restarted negotiations after the latter called off its 126-day protest in Islamabad’s D-Chowk in the aftermath of the grisly December 16 attack on schoolchildren in Peshawar.

The talks broke down once again though, after the two sides could not agree on the terms of reference and scope of the proposed judicial commission for probing alleged rigging in the May 2013 elections. Both sides have accused each other of not being serious about reaching an agreement on the matter.

On Tuesday, PTI chief Imran Khan warned that his party would be forced to come out on the streets again if the government did not form the commission by January 18.

Talking to reporters, Shah said his party will not table any resolution in NA to de-seat PTI legislators from the lower house over their continued absence from the proceedings.

PTI lawmakers had submitted their resignations to the NA speaker last August, but the latter has taken no decision on the matter so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2015.