Self-sabotage

As expected, Imran Khan abruptly called off talks over the failure of the government to form a judicial commission. Although the government was partly to blame for not taking any confidence-building measures by releasing some of the imprisoned workers and leaders, the PTI should have shown patience and awaited the government’s response. The PML-N-led government was consulting its coalition partners and trying to find a middle way. The government’s option to form a committee instead of a commission should also have been accepted by the PTI.

But the PTI was inflexible and also demanded a mandate and terms-of-reference for the still-to-be-formed commission. Once again, the PTI chairman’s impatience benefited the government and harmed him and his party the most. He should know by now that, in democratic setups, things take time. The PML-N spokesperson was right in asserting that the PTI requested talks and then called off the talks in haste. The government has once again gained the upper hand by proving that it was serious about talk only for the PTI chief to sabotage them.

Gulsher Panhwer

Johi