ISLAMABAD: As the third round of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wound up on Saturday afternoon, the PTI team declared the talks “dead” as their main demand remained unacceptable to the other side.

The PTI had ratcheted down its primary objective, from demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his relinquishing charge of the top slot for one month so that a fact-finding judicial commission may have time to present its findings on electoral rigging during this period.

“Although we have presented a win-win solution that is in the interest of both sides, as well as in the best interest of the country’s future, the government side insists on sacrificing the country for the sake of one man,” PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

“This is really unfortunate,” he said while talking to media after talks at a five-star hotel in the capital.

Middle-ground?

“Our perspective is that while a judicial commission — consisting of judges of the Supreme Court — is evaluating and investigating rigging in the 2013 general elections, Nawaz Sharif should remain out of office,” Mr Qureshi said, adding that the law does not bar any person from becoming premier for a fourth time, if the commission rules that the elections were fair.

Shah Mehmood says Nawaz Sharif must resign for 30 days to allow commission to work independently

Mr Qureshi said that the prime minister should step down for this brief period as it was essential to ensure the appearance of propriety and ensure that the judicial commission is not under undue influence.

“We do not doubt the integrity of the judges, but political influence will be exerted on the departments which are responsible for providing the necessary information. The best example of this bias is the failure to register an FIR over the Model Town tragedy, in spite of court orders,” he said.

Mr Qureshi said the party had even suggested that the ruling party nominate one of its own parliamentarians as interim prime minister and could even continue with the same over the course of the 30 days. However, if the judicial commission finds evidence of rigging, re-elections will be the only suitable recourse.

These softened demands were also echoed by party chief Imran Khan, who, in his speech at the sit-in on Saturday evening, said that “Ghazi-i-Jamhooriyat” (survivors of democracy) like Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari had come together to “protect democracy” yet again.

“The people of my country know who believes in real democracy and who is simply minting money in the name of democracy,” he said.

“We have not asked for the formation of a national government, nor are we talking about a third option,” he said, referring to apprehensions about military intervention.

The PTI leader said a parliamentary committee had been formed to discuss electoral reforms and that the party had expressed a willingness to participate in the process, but added that the committee should complete its work within 45 days.

Apart from Mr Qureshi, the PTI team consisted of its President, Javed Hashmi, KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Jehangir Tareen, Asad Umar and Dr Arif Alvi.

The government side was represented by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Pervez Rashid, Zahid Hamid and Abdul Qadir Baloch.

Govt reciprocates

The government too seemed to concede some ground as Chaudhry Sarwar told reporters after the meeting that the PTI’s call for replacement of the chiefs of the Federal Investigation Agency, Nadra and the Election Commission of Pakistan were acceptable to them.

“We have asked them to nominate individuals for the positions and the government will consider those names,” he added.

Meanwhile, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal told media that the call for the PM’s resignation was an irrational demand.

“We are ready to resolve the issue according to the law and constitution, not based on anybody’s stubbornness or (personal) likes and dislikes,” he said, adding that “As for influencing the departments or the commission, that is still possible because the whole cabinet and the party remains in power.”

Mr Iqbal said that both the houses of the parliament, the provincial assemblies and the legal community had passed unanimous resolutions rejecting the politics of agitation and demands for the PM’s resignation.

“As for demands related to electoral reforms, we have agreed to get rid of lacunas and this process is already under way,” he said, referring to the parliamentary committee on electoral reform.

Despite the PTI’s pessimism, the PML-N team said that negotiations were a never-ending process and they would continue to remain in contact with PTI leaders.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2014