The opposition says the ball is in the government’s court as it accepts the prime minister’s proposal without preconditions
ISLAMABAD:
Ten days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an olive branch for political dialogue, the process appears to be stalling at the starting line, with the federal government yet to make any formal contact with the opposition alliance on the timing and framework of the talks, casting a shadow over the seriousness of outreach.
The Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aeen Pakistan (TTAP) formally accepted the prime minister’s offer on December 24, showing willingness for dialogue without preconditions. However, no follow-up engagement has taken place so far, which makes the process stalled at the declaration stage.
Vice Chairman TTAP Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the opposition had responded to the prime minister’s offer with restraint and political maturity.
He said the opposition, without attaching any preconditions, had shown its willingness to engage on broader national issues, including restoration of the 1973 Constitution, parliamentary sovereignty and rehabilitation of the heavily tarnished reputation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as well as the credibility of the electoral process.
Khokhar said the onus now lies with the government, adding that the ball was firmly in its court. He said that if the authorities were not serious about their offer, the opposition had effectively called their bluff. But if the intention was really to steer the country out of its political and economic crisis, his party was ready to play its part in the larger national interest.
He further said that a meaningful first step by the government would be to stop creating obstacles in the appointment of opposition leaders in both houses of parliament. Without this, he warned, the government’s intentions would remain questionable.
Despite the passage of several months, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has yet to notify Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Similarly, Allama Raja Abbas Nasir has not been reported as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. The government, meanwhile, passed the 27th constitutional amendment in the absence of formally notified opposition leaders in both houses.
Against this backdrop, TTAP has declined to participate in the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) conference scheduled for Wednesday.
The National Dialogue Committee, headed by former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, aims to propose a roadmap for political dialogue in the country. It is learned that both major ruling parties – PML-N and PPP – are expected to decide on their participation in the conference on Tuesday (today).
Representatives of senior bar associations have also expressed willingness to participate.
Political analysts say the road to dialogue remains bumpy, not least because of persistent divisions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the party’s future policy course.
A faction within the PTI opposes talks with the government and favors renewed agitation – a strategy that has yielded little since elections on February 8, 2024. The group believes public sentiment remains receptive to protests over the continued detention of Imran Khan, but acknowledges that weak and fragmented party leadership has left supporters without clear direction.
They argue that any upcoming protest could prove decisive, pointing to the increased activism of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who has stepped up efforts to mobilize party workers across the country, especially in KP. After Lahore, the CM is scheduled to visit Karachi on January 9.
Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, is also reported to oppose engagement with the current government.
However, there appears to be wider consensus within the party that Imran Khan has delegated authority over future policy strategy to TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who accepted the prime minister’s offer of dialogue after what sources describe as extensive internal deliberations.
Another section of the PTI supports political engagement, arguing that the executive has effectively consolidated its grip on the judiciary, offering little immediate prospect of relief from superior courts.
They also point to the absence of meaningful international pressure on the government to accommodate the PTI, despite it being the country’s largest political party.
These voices further note that the authorities have succeeded in instilling fear among PTI supporters in Punjab through sustained crackdowns, severely limiting the party’s capacity for street mobilization.
