Following much ado and several false starts, the first meeting between committees representing the government the PTI took place last week, marking the beginning of the long-awaited engagement by the two sides to defuse the prevailing political tensions in the country.

It may be recalled here that in the first week of December, Imran Khan had announced his party’s committee for talks with the government. Subsequently, following the recommendation of National Assembly  Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  formed a negotiating committee comprising ruling coalition members.

The first in-camera meeting, chaired by NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was an ice breaker. Addressing the meeting, Sadiq hailed both sides’ decision to form committees to discuss the problems faced by the country, adding that he had recommended the premier to form the committee on Barrister Gohar’s request. To quote Sadiq, “I am grateful to all of you […] for forming a committee without delay. I think the seriousness of the negotiation is evident from the seniority of the leadership that is present. I hope that we will talk about Pakistan’s benefit. Talks are the only solution in a democracy……the country’s economic prosperity depended on political stability.” After the meeting, the NA speaker expressed the hope that if everyone joined their heads together and worked for Pakistan’s betterment, the country would see “improvement in democracy and the challenges faced by Pakistan would be tackled”.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said that during discussions they had put their demands forward for the release of their party leaders, including Imran Khan, and the formation of a judicial commission comprising the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. Qaiser said that they had also demanded the resumption of their communication with the incarcerated PTI founder, adding that the government, while accepting their demands, had assured them of arranging their meeting with him.

On the other hand, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, when asked by reporters as to who the guarantor of the meeting was, said, “There is no guarantor. When the two sides are having a political dialogue amongst themselves, there is no question of ‘who is the guarantor’ or ‘how will you be satisfied. The point is that the PTI is participating in the talks with an open heart, and so are we. There is no such condition as to what could or could not be said during the talks. They can say whatever they want to, and our point of view will be presented, and only after that we’ll reach a middle ground. Political dialogue means both sides sit together with an open heart and listen to what is being said, and then find a way forward. It cannot be that they accept 100 per cent of our demands or vice versa. The middle ground is the best ground. If the rule of parliamentary democracy is to move forward, it cannot happen without political dialogue. We will have to do that.” In the same positive vein Senator Irfan Siddiqui told reporters that the government was heading into the talks with positive expectations, hoping that the meeting would bear “good results”.

What are the chances of success of the ongoing talks? So far the signs are all hopeful despite some hurdles in the way. According to some political analysts, with the military spokesman indicting the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), without naming it, in a press conference a few days ago and the party responding in kind, the chances of success of dialogue between the government and PTI have apparently dimmed a bit. But this is a negative reading of the situation. Although there are spoilers in both the camps like Khawaja Asif of the PML-N, senior leaders on both sides are hopeful about a positive outcome from the talks.

Asad Qaiser and other PTI stalwarts said after holding a press conference in response to the ISPR presser that they do not want to vitiate the atmosphere for negotiations. Similarly, Rana Sanaullah and Saad Rafique have also promised sincerity in talks to ensure success.

Regarding the agenda of the ongoing negotiations, the PTI has put forward two main demands – judicial commissions on May 9 and November 26 and release of political prisoners – which it says are non-negotiable. Regarding the release of political prisoners, the PTI would want the government not to influence the ‘judicial process’ involving its workers.

The PTI also wants the judicial commissions to ascertain what happened on May 9 and November 26. The party thinks it would be as beneficial for the government as it is for the PTI. It would lend credibility to the claims of either party and lend stability to the system and help end political unrest which is the need of the hour.

Needless to say, democracy and dialogue go together. A democratic polity moves forward based on the spirit of accommodation and acceptance of diverse viewpoints. It is a good sign that the PTI, which was earlier reluctant to talk to the ruling party, has agreed to sit down and thrash out the problems bedeviling the country. In this context, Rana Sanaullah has said that if the leaders of PTI, PML-N and PPP sat together the crisis facing the country could be resolved amicably. This is a good suggestion which merits serious consideration by all concerned.