PPP’s final committee of five

Last ditch effort for PML-N acceptance of the four points

It must be admitted that the top leadership of the PML-N has a simple and fixed policy of dealing with political opponents on diverse occasions: it is either at their feet or at their throats. A timely compromise or engaging with the ‘enemy’ is apparently beyond its comprehension, even an affront to the famed heavy mandate. It is a constitutional infirmity which it has been unable to remedy even in its third term. This tried and tested method served the PML-N best during the protracted Islamabad road show or dharna of Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri. At a critical juncture during these prolonged protests, a humbled prime minister even condescended to visit the National Assembly regularly and conscientiously, kowtowing to the PPP which had saved the day for the beleaguered PML-N leader.

The ‘new’ PPP of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made necessary changes in the long-standing policy of reconciliation followed by the elder Zardari. The present bone of contention between the PPP and the PML(N) is the non-acceptance so far by the government of the PPP’s four demands, of appointing a foreign minister, forming a parliamentary committee on national security, removing some reservation on the CPEC’s western route and passage of the opposition’s bill on the Panama Leaks. Taking a leaf out of the PTI’s textbook, the PPP chairman announced on October 17 that that the PPP would launch a street agitation if these demands were not met by December 27. Still, in a final attempt at a peaceful resolution, the PPP has now constituted a committee of five of its stalwarts, consisting of Yousaf Raza Gilani, Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Farhatullah Khan Babar and Senator Sardar Mohammad Hasni to make a last attempt for an amicable resolution.

It would be sensible for the prime minister to reciprocate the measure and reach an agreement with these veteran and savvy politicians before it is confronted by a daunting PPP –PTI axis and its formidable combined street power. He has enough on his plate already.