ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the rival political parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government have expressed their willingness to sit at the negotiating table.
The move comes in view of the worsening economic and political crisis in the country and the efforts of Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq to bring both parties to the negotiating table.
لاہور – امیر جماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کی وزیراعظم شہباز شریف سے ملاقات، ملک کی موجودہ سیاسی صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال
جماعت اسلامی کے سیکرٹری جنرل امیرالعظیم، نائب امیر لیاقت بلوچ اور وفاقی وزرا سردار ایاز صادق اور خواجہ سعد رفیق بھی اس موقع پر موجود تھے۔ pic.twitter.com/UyVvZQKRqZ— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) April 15, 2023
As part of these efforts, a three-member delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Sirajul Haq, held separate meetings with Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday.
During the meetings, the current political situation in the country and the ongoing judicial crisis were discussed, and both sides agreed that issues should be resolved through collective wisdom.
جماعت اسلامی کے وفد کی چئیرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف @ImranKhanPTI سے ملاقات. جماعت اسلامی کے وفد میں سراج الحق صاحب بھی شامل-
pic.twitter.com/KhwA1MsZ7n— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 15, 2023
Local media reported that the meetings were highly successful, with both parties agreeing to sit at the negotiating table to end the current confrontation that has badly affected the country’s economy and the masses.
PTI demands early elections
The PTI has been holding protests since their ouster in April last year and demanding early elections, which the federal government has persistently denied.
The PTI dissolved Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies in its bid to force the federal government to hold countrywide general elections, but the Shehbaz-led administration did not budge.
However, the situation took a turn when the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the holding of the polls in Punjab on May 14. The parliament rejected the Supreme Court verdict, leading the judiciary and federal government to lock horns.
In a statement, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Information Qaisar Sharif confirmed that Sirajul Haq held two important meetings in Lahore on Friday. A three-member delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami headed by Sirajul Haq and comprising Ameer Ul Azim and Liaqat Baloch met PM Shehbaz Sharif at his Model Town residence and Imran Khan at his house in Zaman Park.
“The Jamaat-e-Islami had decided to contact the political parties to build a consensus for holding general elections on the same day,” Sharif added. “The country cannot afford any chaos in the current situation,” he said, citing Haq.
Giving details about the meeting between the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation and the Prime Minister, the secretary of information said that PM Shehbaz Sharif was of the view that all the political parties should sacrifice their ego and come towards a national consensus.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his party will cooperate if Jamaat-e-Islami wants to play a mediatory role,” Sharif added.
Both sides agreed to continue negotiations and include other parties in the process, the JI leader added.
The development has raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis in the country. The news has been welcomed by citizens, who have been facing the brunt of the political impasse through worsening economic conditions.
