PTI asks Alvi to initiate dialogue between parties, establishment

ISLAMABAD: Some PTI leaders have approached President Dr Arif Alvi to make an effort for a dialogue between political parties including the PTI and the establishment.

The PTI sources say that President Alvi in principle agrees to the idea but it is not sure whether he would go for it or not. There is a lot of frustration within the PTI for the post-May 9 situation it is facing but the party is not getting any chance to return to normal politics.

Background interactions with some of the PTI leaders show that irrespective of what is the stated policy of PTI regarding May 9, the party leaders seriously regret what was done on May 9 and how the party workers had reacted to the arrest of Imran Khan. “I wish it had never happened,” a PTI source said, adding that the May 9 events have badly damaged the party.

Ali Muhammad Khan, one of the few PTI leaders who still appear on TV talk shows to represent the party, confirmed to The News that he recently contacted President Alvi and requested him to initiate a dialogue process between political parties including the PTI and the establishment. He said that President Alvi in principle agrees to this but Ali Muhammad Khan is not sure whether he would take the initiative or not.

Independent observers believe that in case the President initiates such a move, he may not get a positive response from most of the political parties (particularly those opposed to the PTI) and the establishment.

Weeks back, Imran Khan through one of his lawyers had conveyed from Attock Jail his offer for dialogue with the political parties and the establishment. But he did not get any response from any side.

Rauf Hasan, the PTI information secretary, when approached said that there is nothing new in PTI’s stance for initiation of dialogue process between PTI and other political parties and the establishment.

He did not confirm or deny whether the President will initiate the dialogue process following PTI’s urge for dialogue but said that he has been meeting Dr Alvi and may see him again in a day or two. He recalled that it was Imran Khan, who himself had asked for dialogue with the political parties and the establishment.

When asked whether it is true that the PTI leaders now regret what had happened on May 9, Rauf said that firstly the policy of the PTI on May 9 is to get the matter probed from an independent judicial commission to punish the responsible no matter who they are. Secondly, he said, “We all love Pakistan and no one would ever want to see Pakistan damaged in any manner. What had happened on May 9, he said, had hurt him too.”

The PTI’s information secretary said that ever since he took his present responsibility, he made it clear that the PTI is a political party that believes in political struggle within the limits of law and constitution.

Meanwhile, the party sources told this correspondent that despite their all sorts of effort there is no contact established between the PTI and the establishment. The PTI including Imran Khan desperately wants to sort out their differences with the establishment but the May 9 events have seriously complicated the situation for Tehreek-e-Insaf.