Way out of this chaos
The Jirga can still help make peace between the government and protestors
Q: What is the latest status of your interaction with the government as well as the protesting parties?
RM: The opposition parties and Jirga members had a detailed meeting on Thursday to discuss the way forward. The opposition has directed the Jirga to only meet the top leadership of both sides and now we have contacted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri.
These interactions have suggested that some meetings would be held next week, most likely on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Prior to that, we also wrote two successive open letters to the three leaders and forwarded our proposals to break the impasse. These proposals have been framed by all Jirga members with consensus.
Q: Cabinet ministers have time and again asserted that the role of the Jirga was only to facilitate talks and not to make proposals.
RM: I agree with the cabinet ministers that we are facilitating talks but since the talks process had stalled, we have made a humble effort to float some proposals to break the deadlock. Now it is up to the government and the protesting parties to either accept this formula or trash it. But both sides should remember that history is being written and the historians would not forgive them if something bad happens to our country.
I think much has been already achieved in the dialogue between government and PAT and the government and the PTI. The grey areas are the resignation demand of prime minister and chief minister Punjab. We have come out with proposals regarding both demands.
We have also asked the protesters to call off their sit-ins in case an agreement is reached. We have committed no discrimination as both sides are dear to the Jirga.
With talks stalled between negotiating panels of the government and protesting parties of PTI and PAT, the parliament’s representative panel (Jirga) is presenting new proposals to address major demands of both the parties to facilitate a breakthrough.
Q: Definition of rigging has been the bone of contention in talks between the government and the PTI. Your proposal on rigging definition has covered all the areas of concern of both sides. Do you think you have signals from any sides to accept this proposal?
RM: The members of the Jirga, after deliberation on the definition of rigging, came up with a comprehensive set of proposals to deal with the logjam. In our terms of reference for the proposed judicial commission, we have suggested that the commission should investigate the following aspects:
a) Pre-election rigging
b) Election-day rigging
c) Post-election manipulation
d) Role of the caretaker setup in rigging and fixing the responsibility
e) Role of the Election Commission of Pakistan in the rigging
f) Any conspiracy wherein PML-N/Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif found guilty of the said rigging; and
g) By-product of the said rigging, which is federal/provincial government.
We have also proposed that both PTI and the government agree to a reasonable timeframe to complete the investigation by the high powered judicial commission.
I have urged the government not to take responsibility of the poll rigging as holding of elections was not responsibility of the PML-N government and rather it was election commission or the caretakers. Even if this assessment is done, no liability can be fixed on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in no position to rig the polls.
The opposition should also give proper respect to the prime minister who is going to represent the country in the United Nations in the next few weeks.
What massage we are sending to the world by registering murder cases against the PM? I don’t endorse registration of the FIRs against the PM. He should also have indemnity just like the president or governors. I also demanded during the joint session of the parliament to amend the constitution and give immunity to the premier. Now it was the responsibility of the government to table a bill in this regard but the government failed to do so.
I think that the government should form a high powered judicial commission and let the law take its own course. Even I, as an ordinary citizen, may move court and urge the apex court to take up the rigging matter and frame its own ToRs if both parties fail to agree to our proposals. Rigging is not a problem for PTI but it’s an issue for all parties. We all have to make sure that transparent elections are held in future.
Q: How would the Jirga help bridge the trust gap between the two sides?
RM: It’s a major problem in my view. But nobody should be allowed to make an issue out of it.
Trust gap is natural among politicians and various political parties. The only solution to such gaps is to implement the charter of democracy (CoD). I think there is a need to rewrite the CoD incorporating Benazir Bhutto’s vision in it. I think CoD Part-II should be inked and the govt should show maturity to get the issues resolved amicably.
Pakistan Today sat down with former interior minister and PPP Senator Rehman Malik, who is representing his party in the Jirga, and asked some key questions so the readers could understand the good job done by Jirga members to break the political impasse.
Q: What about cases registered against top PTI and PAT leaders?
RM: We feel that the cases framed against innocent protesters should be dropped. A judicial commission may be set up to examine and redress these cases one-by-one.
It is also recommended that further political cases against the PAT and the PTI workers should not be registered to avoid harming the process of negotiations.
Q: Do you think that the Jirga has come up with a rational solution to the demand of resignation from the prime minister and chief minister Punjab.
RM: Keeping in view the stalemate, the Jirga has already proposed a detailed way forward in its previous appeal to deal with the issue of the resignation of the prime minister, whereas new proposals to deal with the resignation of the Punjab chief minister are also placed on record for their consideration.
The Jirga has proposed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announce, in advance, that he would quit if a judicial commission proves ‘systematic rigging’ in the May 2013 elections.
Q: Neither the PM nor the top leaders of PPP have ever pledged public support for the Jirga. If they really mean business, why did Mr Zardari not call PM and urge him to pay heed to the Jirga’s proposals?
RM: I think you have raised a very good and valid proposal. In the very next sitting of the Jirga, I will float your proposal and after agreement, we may seek support from PPP co-chairman, asking him to play his due role to convince the prime minister and other players to take the dialogue process ahead.
The demand for national reforms should be met in letter and spirit, and as agreed, a national reforms council, headed by a renowned experience dignitary with impeachable integrity and with the mutual consent of the PAT and the government, be constituted with immediate effect.
I think proposals raised by the Jirga are very positive and we have tried to address the concerns of all parties involved. Now both sides should accept these proposals. We have brought about an opportunity to both sides and they should take this opportunity to get the nation out of this chaotic situation.
