Govt, protesting parties were near deal to end impasse

Sources say PTI had proposed sending PM on a month’s leave and formation of a high-powered judicial commission to probe alleged poll rigging

The government and the two protesting parties, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), neared a likely breakthrough Saturday as both sides reportedly reached an agreement on a PTI proposal that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should leave office for a month and the prime minister’s powers be transferred to some other senior PML-N leader for the period, but the events that unfolded later in the night had scuttled the entire process.

Talking to Pakistan Today, sources privy to the talk process revealed on Saturday evening that the talks, facilitated by the military establishment, had paved the way for reaching an end to the breakthrough provided the government agrees to the proposal in which the establishment would reportedly act as a guarantor.

Sources said that PTI had proposed that a powerful judicial commission be formed to probe election rigging within one month and that all state organs be directed to fully cooperate with the commission. It was also proposed that the commission be empowered to dish out punishments to all officials and politicians found to be involved in rigging.

Sources said that PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri was also onboard and PTI had coordinated with him before presenting the proposals to the government.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that his party is ready to accept the proposed judicial commission, but it still believes that a transparent probe is not possible with Nawaz as PM.

He said that in order to remove the existing political deadlock PM Sharif will have to resign. “We have not backed away from our demand of Sharif’s resignation,” he added.

Qureshi said that his party is keen on solving issues but “unfortunately the government is not so eager”.

“We had no contact with the army nor did we request a meeting with the army chief,” he clarified.

PM WILL DISSOLVE ASSEMBLIES IF RIGGING IS PROVED:

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar claimed that the PM would dissolve assemblies if the judicial commission proved rigging allegations, adding that the PM would publically make the commitment.

However, Dar ruled out the resignation of PM Sharif or Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.