Negotiations with Political Forces: PTI Founder’s Signal Marks Significant Development
(Analysis: Salman Ghani): The founding leader of PTI’s decision to signal his party officials’ engagement in negotiations with political forces is being seen as a major development.
After assembly with the PTI founder in Adiala Jail, the party’s chairman, Barrister Gohar, spoke to the media. He announced the initiation of a dialogue manner with political forces led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the head of the Pashtun Khwa Milli Awami Party. It is essential to assess the seriousness of the PTI founders. The capacity for progress that may be madez and whether or not the government and its allied parties are prepared to attain a political compromise with PTI or the opposition and agree on a joint timetable for the negotiations.
Shift in Negotiation Strategy
The PTI founder’s call for negotiations is not just a change in approach but a potential game-changer. Previously, his focus was on engaging with Pakistan’s establishment. However, the new directive to his party officials signals a shift in strategy, possibly due to the establishment’s reluctance to negotiate with him. This suggests that the establishment and the judiciary are advocating for political dialogue between political forces and the government.
Government and Opposition Readiness
A key question is whether the government and the ruling parties will show willingness to negotiate with PTI and other opposition parties. Analyzing the current circumstances, it appears unlikely that the ruling parties will engage in such dialogue without the establishment’s approval. Additionally, we need to examine the agenda of these negotiations to see if we can mutually agree upon it. It is premature to speculate on this.
The government firmly aligns with the establishment regarding the incidents of May 9 and identifying those responsible. It will likely avoid any dialogue that might cause friction with the establishment or jeopardize its standing. Thus, the primary obstacle in the negotiation process between the government and the opposition will be the agenda itself. The government will not be willing to negotiate on points that would question its credibility or strain its relations with the establishment.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
Historically, meaningful negotiations among political forces in Pakistan have often commenced with the intervention of a third party playing a positive role. PTI’s primary challenge has been its focus on targeting the establishment and the state’s role rather than the government and political forces, resulting in more harm than benefit.
