Swiss letter only thorny issue in PPP-PML-N deal

Writing a letter to Swiss authorities to implement the Supreme Court’s order is a major thorny issue capable to disrupt the ongoing dialogue process between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for which both the political parties are engaged in hectic parleys within their respective circles to seek an honourable way-out for the government to implement the court order while avoiding any controversy for the next caretaker prime minister, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.
Sources in both major political parties told this scribe that almost all contentious issues between them had been touched upon by their negotiating teams and there seemed a consensus that all other issues might be resolved in the manner the issue of the appointment of CEC was resolved. Along with that all, the PML-N wants that the coalition government resolves the matter of writing a letter rather than leaving it for the caretaker prime minister to do so. However, the PPP seemed insistent on delaying the court orders while still staying open to any good idea by PML-N in this regard, the sources revealed.
Moreover, the sources say the PML-N wants that the covert talks between the two parties should be made formal and public. The sources also claimed that the demand made by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif last week in this regard was also a part his strategy. After the initial contacts made through backchannels and intermediaries, the next round of talks would be formal and are likely to be made public as demanded by PML-N chief as the initial confidence building measures (CBMs) had provided sound base for furthering the negotiation process, the sources further claimed.
A source in the PML-N said that his party wanted a midway to be adopted by the government to implement the apex court order so as the caretaker prime minister does not find himself pitted between a rock and a hard place, facing no other issue but holding transparent and fair elections. “We want the PPP-led coalition government to implement the court order about writing the letter as the judiciary is quite determined. We don’t want the government to leave the matter for caretaker prime minister. There is a midway – a commission could be formed under Article 187 of the constitution to write the letter to Swiss authorities. Registrar of the apex court may also do so. The chief justice has already hinted that article 190 would not be invoked to get the job done with assistance from the armed forces,” said the source, stating that all such options may bring about a solution to the letter issue.
Other than the letter, other major issue to be settled in formal talks between both the parties is to set the timing for the next general elections.
“The leadership of allied parties is pushing the PPP leadership not to agree for early elections as there are grim chances of their win in the next elections. Whilst, the PML-N leadership wants early polls – anytime between mid September to mid November this year as the holy month of Muharram is going to start around November 20,” said another source in the PPP privy to the details of the talks and the backchannel contacts between both major parties. The source said that during the formal talks, probably starting next week, Senator Ishaq Dar would be leading delegation from the PML-N while Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah would head the PPP team.
The source said that the PML-N had conceded that the president and the four governors would remain unchanged while it was also agreed that the appointment of caretaker prime minister and the four chief ministers would also be made by the president in consultation with the PML-N. “The president is an elected head of state and we understand that he has to stay. Moreover, we also agree that governors are appointed by the head of the state and this is his prerogative to appoint governors. But we do want consultation on caretaker prime minister and chief ministers,” said the PML-N leader.
The source said that both the parties had agreed principally that no incumbent prime minister or chief ministers would continue working in the caretaker setup; rather than that, only non-controversial individuals would be appointed. “Moreover, both the parties have agreed that no “imported” individual would be appointed as prime minister under pressure from any quarter(s) like was the case of Moeen Qureshi. The caretaker prime minister would not send reference against any politician to the NAB under corruption charges for “witch hunting” during the next polls.
The PPP leader said that the heads of allied parties, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Quiad and Awami National Party, were putting pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari to complete the term of the parliament and hold elections on time.
“We want to hold elections in February next year as we have to honour the request of our allies who have stood by the government in hard times,” said the source, adding that the PML-N leadership should also understand the compulsion of the PPP who could not ditch its allies.