- JI chief says PM’s credibility major impediment in dialogue with PTI, PAT
- Hopes Imran Khan will stop asking for PM’s resignation if provided ‘concrete guarantees’
Chief of parliamentary jirga and Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq Thursday termed the credibility of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government “a major stumbling block” in the way of success of dialogue process with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) negotiating teams, saying that the jirga was looking for entities who the protestors could take as guarantees.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today, Haq said that PTI’s negotiating team was positively contributing to the dialogue process and if PTI chief’s all other demands are met by the government and “concrete guarantees” are provided, Khan could agree to withdraw his demand for prime minister’s resignation.
PTI, PAT CAN’T TRUST GOVT:
The JI chief said that though the government was also showing flexibility vis-a-vis protesters’ demands but guaranty was the major impediment in talks. He said that the PTI and PAT negotiators were concerned that if they withdraw their sit-ins, the government would breach its promises made during the dialogue.
“This is why we are working to get guarantees from the government which badly lacks credibility. I won’t blame the PTI or PAT for their doubts as the government’s track record in this regard is not good and the government badly suffers from credibility issue,” Haq said.
He however said that the parliamentarians of the jirga were working hard to address this credibility issue and had proposed that once the deal is done, the clauses of the agreement will be announced in media’s presence so that none of the parties backtrack.
Asked whether the PTI and PAT leaders were cooperative to the Jirga members during dialogue, Sirajul Haq said that the PTI delegation was very positive and even Imran Khan strongly believed in resolving all issues through meaningful dialogue.
ARMY PLAYED PER PUBLIC ASPIRATIONS:
Haq said that the confusion created by prime minister over his statement regarding involving the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif in dialogue process had badly affected the government’s credibility.
“The way the debate was carried out on the role of Army in dialogue process and the manner the meanings of facilitation were confused reflected how everyone gives meanings to their words in our society. I think the Army played its role as per the public aspirations throughout the crisis,” he added.
THE TONE MATTERS:
Asked whether the fiery statements by Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Defence Minister Ishaq Dar and some others treasury members were hampering the dialogue process, Haq nodded in affirmation.
“I have raised this issue with the prime minister today and have asked him to ban his ministers from making provocative statements as such a tone always breed hate.”
Asked about the role of judiciary, Haq said that the judiciary had restored its image among public during the past few years and hoped that the Supreme Court would also cater to the political sensitivities while dealing with the political issues.