Government, opposition talks on key issues stalled

ISLAMABAD: Attempts to set in motion the process of “consultations” between the government and opposition parties to resolve two key issues of immediate nature stand quashed for the time being by the positions taken by the two sides. A direct, meaningful discussion is nowhere in sight to hammer out a consensus on extending the operation of the military courts to try civilians, accused of terrorism, and to name two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “We are ready to hold a debate on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism in the parliament anytime,” former Speaker and prominent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told The News. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is the point man of Prime Minister Imran Khan on consultations with the opposition parties, has made it known that the government is willing to hold a discussion on the NAP in the legislature.  Ayaz Sadiq said that leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif is not fond of having a session with the prime minister but when such meeting is a constitutional requirement, he has no hesitation and insists on it.Qureshi recently indicated that Imran Khan may meet Shahbaz Sharif as required by the Constitution. However, another minister said that there is no need for a face-to-face interaction and the premier has formed ministerial committees to talk about different issues with the opposition parties.The foreign minister’s offer for a briefing to the senior parliamentary leaders of all sides for the implementation of NAP on March 28 had to be cancelled after its disapproval by the opposition parties, which stressed on involving the parliament.While any movement forward on the military tribunals’ extension is at a total standstill, the exchange of letters between personal aides of the prime minister/foreign minister and opposition leader on the nomination of the ECP members has halted the matter inching towards a solution, even slightly. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif is leaving for Britain in three days and is expected to stay in London for a week to consult with his doctors. He is likely to be back shortly before the next session of the Lower House of Parliament being scheduled around April 12. This means that he will not be available to the government for any consultations. In his absence, the government may contact Ayaz Sadiq and some other important PML-N leaders if it wants to discuss the issues of the extension of the military courts and appointment of the ECP members.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2FExsqH