ISLAMABAD: The federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf agreed to involve Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as a mediator to help revive political dialogue and ease tensions.
The development comes after recent government-PTI negotiations ended in a deadlock over several political and administrative issues. Both sides have continued to express willingness to engage in dialogue, although significant differences remain.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, along with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, met Fazlur Rehman at his residence on Wednesday. Sadiq said efforts were underway to find a political way forward.
The meeting followed contacts between Fazlur Rehman and opposition leaders, including Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser. They discussed the political situation, negotiations with the government and the possibility of an All-Parties Conference.
Fazlur Rehman has called for a broader political approach to resolving the confrontation. He has also stressed the importance of bringing political forces together through dialogue rather than allowing differences to escalate.
However, the JUI-F chief has reportedly set conditions for playing a formal mediating role. He wants both sides to demonstrate seriousness and create an environment conducive to meaningful negotiations.
The latest initiative comes as the PTI continues its long march towards Islamabad. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called for unconditional talks and maintained that political disagreements should be resolved through negotiations.
The government has also kept the door open for dialogue. Rana Sanaullah said the government was willing to negotiate but would not accept demands under pressure from street demonstrations.
Earlier negotiations produced a proposed five-point understanding covering political dialogue, access to PTI founder Imran Khan, treatment of arrested party workers and cooperation on counterterrorism matters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. However, disagreements over the security mechanism in the province prevented the understanding from being implemented.
With both sides facing continued political pressure, Fazlur Rehman’s possible mediation could provide another channel for communication. The success of the initiative will depend on whether the government and PTI can agree on mutually acceptable terms and resume formal negotiations.
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