Dialogue Refusal by PDM and Uncertain Future?

The simmering political temperature in Pakistan is reaching boiling point as the opposition parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) have ruled out any possibilities of engaging in dialogue with the incumbent government.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz met at Jati Umrah on Friday.

They both announced that PDM has decided to tighten the noose against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and stated that the water has gone over the head and the likelihood of dialogue now was unlikely.

Bilawal asserted that the resignations of PPP lawmakers would be in his pocket until December 31.

Sources told News360 that Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, and others have submitted resignations with the party chairman.

However, in an interesting development, PPP has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold by-elections on three constituencies of the Sindh Assembly.

PPP’s Taj Haider has submitted a formal application with ECP to hold by-elections on vacant seats in Sanghar, Umerkot, and Malir.

Meanwhile, the latest development on part of the government is the replacement of interior minister Aijaz Shah with Sheikh Rasheed.

If PDM partners head to Islamabad as they plan to, a chaotic situation could ensue as the protesters and administration could possibly face-off in clashes resulting in disorder.

Under ideal circumstances for the opposition, the government allows them to rally into Islamabad without impeding them and they hunker down in Islamabad.

The next question would be whether the opposition succeeds in divesting the government or would it have to look for a face-saving after staying in Islamabad for a few days or maybe weeks.

The history of anti-government sit-ins in Pakistan is not new and the outcomes have been counter-productive.

Only the lawyers’ march to the federal capital in 2007 can be distinguished from others as it finished achieving its motive.

However, every passing day, the standpoints on part of the government and opposition parties are seemingly striding towards a deadlock.

Since politics remains enigmatic, the likelihood of back-channel talks between the opponents cannot be overlooked.

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Political analyst Imtiaz Gul, while talking to News360, said that the opposition parties were disregarding coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in pursuit of exerting pressure on the government. “Now, it’s up to them if they bend a little and agree to sit on the dialogue table”.

Imtiaz Gul opined that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been obdurate against extending any flexibility to the opposition members on corruption cases.

This is a sticking point between the government and opposition, he added.

The government should review the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases against opposition leaders as they are ostensibly politically motivated.

He added that the government should show some flexibility to make headway.

Answering a question regarding the impacts of the long march on upcoming Senate elections, he said that it seemingly would not make any difference to the PTI government as it has announced to hold by-elections in case if opposition resigns and the upper house of the parliament is likely to flip in its favor.