PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to convene a roundtable conference has generated some waves in the country’s politics. If it’s taken seriously and the government and opposition respond positively, it will help promote reconciliation.

Some parties have expressed reservations as they perceive this consultation to be a political tactic. The PML-N considers this conference would thwart its 10-point agenda. The chief of the PML-F, Pir Pagara, indicated that he would not attend it. Some political and journalistic circles are suspicious that this conference is being held to resolve the issue of Raymond Davis, and that the government will try to develop consensus on this along with national issues. The Davis issue may not be the main one but it would be part of the agenda because the US government has threatened to stop financial aid. Hence the government is in much trouble.

The PPP information secretary, Fauzia Wahab, said that if Davis has a diplomatic passport he is entitled to exemption. It appears the government has some clear agenda about reconciliation on national issues. Whatever the case may be, discussion on national issues is not harmful. The country is facing multiple problems. Terrorism, fundamentalism, the financial crunch and foreign policy are major concerns that are puzzling the government. There is strong opinion that the government cannot resolve these issues single-handedly. Furthermore, it does not want to do so, as the whole responsibility would then rest on the government.

The country is facing its worst financial crisis. At the all-parties conference … the financial crisis should top the agenda….

The country is in a crisis with uncontrollable inflation, poverty and unemployment…. Flood-related losses and the rehabilitation of flood survivors should also be in the focus in the conference….

President Zardari’s decision to hold the conference is timely. If the government took sincere and effective efforts, political parties would attend it. This too is the responsibility of the government. It should not do this is the traditional manner but ought to accomplish with sprit and practicality. If this roundtable conference is held successfully, it will be another of President Zardari’s political successes. — (Feb 11)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi