Govt-opposition negotiations on the horizon

KARACHI: There are reports that the opposition coalition, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan, led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai will soon be reaching out to the government and its partners for talks. Achakzai is also the PTI’s choice to lead the negotiations/talks. However, there is some confusion on exactly with whom the talks are to be held -- the establishment or the government coalition -- with a social media message by PTI founder Imran Khan saying the PTI will not talk to the ‘puppet, mafia regime’.

The opposition coalition is expected to make surprise contacts with the ruling coalition very soon. Media reports on Friday claimed that PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai will likely be initiating the process by approaching the leadership of the PMLN and the PPP.

On Thursday, PTI leader Asad Qaiser had said that a new grand opposition alliance would be formed within two weeks. The present opposition alliance includes the PTI, PkMAP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen.

In a post on X on Friday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the PTI founder’s claim that Mahmood Khan Achakzai would represent the PTI in talks with the establishment. Calling the proposal “frivolous and insincere political manoeuvring”, Asif tweeted: “I asked Mahmood Khan Achakzai this question today in the meeting in the National Assembly; his answer was in the negative -- that he cannot play this role.” A night earlier, Khawaja Asif had said on Geo’s Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath that he was sceptical about whether Achakhzai was even ready to speak to the establishment on behalf of Imran Khan.

Given the confusion, on Friday in a media talk, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar clarified the PTI’s position with the statement: “We have no confusion regarding talks. Mahmood Khan Achakzai had wanted to initiate dialogue with political parties. Imran Khan and the party gave permission. If Achakzai brings any proposal, we will consider it. There is no mistrust. Achakzai has full authority.” Interestingly, Achakzai had in a TV interview on a private channel said that if any negotiations were to be had with the establishment they should be for an ‘honourable retreat’, adding that the way out was to have a national government in place with all parties. The national government should, he added, be in place for three months, sort out reservations, and then go for new elections.

The push for negotiations is also coming from coalition partner PPP whose Raja Pervaiz Ashraf spoke in the National Assembly and while addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “[For God’s sake] open a dialogue; you are at the helm of affairs. Mr Prime Minister. Let’s open a dialogue and save our country.”

However, in a July 31st post on X, Imran Khan’s account had posted a message from the former prime minister in which he does not seem to favour talking to political parties. The message from Imran Khan stated categorically that: “We will not hold any talks, nor will we negotiate with the puppet, mafia regime, imposed on us illegitimately through fraud and rigging. The country is under an undeclared martial law. Political, and consequently, economic instability has impacted every segment of society. Their representatives have been planted in every key post.”

After criticising Mohsin Naqvi, the Punjab IG, and Maryam Nawaz, the post went on to say: “This is why we prefer negotiations with military leadership, who are the actual decision-makers, instead of this puppet government. We have given a mandate to Mahmood Khan Achakzai for negotiations. We will hold conditional negotiations if the military leadership appoints its representative.”