Adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah recently told media Nawaz Sharif is ready for unconditional talks with all political and institutional stakeholders, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to overcome the crises facing Pakistan.
After having earlier expressed an unwillingness for dialogue, Sharif’s about-face suggests he wants to move past the “hybrid” system introduced by then-P.M. Imran Khan and continued by incumbent P.M. Shehbaz Sharif, and move toward a more “democratic” system. While a positive development, Sharif’s offer faces a spoiler in the form of Imran Khan, who has repeatedly said he is only willing to talk to the military and not his opposing politicians. Meanwhile, Parliament is facing its own crisis, with Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal resigning from the National Assembly over its failure to address the situation in Balochistan.
There can be no effective national dialogue without the participation of all the country’s political forces, particularly those from deprived regions such as Balochistan. But while Mengal has rebuffed attempts by both treasury and opposition benches to reverse his decision, critics argue it stems more from political necessity than rights concerns. To be clear, his complaints are not without merit, given many of his speeches in the National Assembly are often excluded from television broadcasts. The resignation, in this context, aims to show to his supporters his priorities remain unchanged. But any meaningful solution requires a national dialogue—though it remains unclear how this could be achieved amidst the prevailing political polarization.
Politicians, not bureaucrats or representatives of powerful institutions, must lead any successful talks, as the latter risks further entrenching authoritarian methods of governance and eroding space for elected representatives. It is only through empowerment of Parliament, and shunning of seeking the Army’s interference in political matters, that the country can hope to overcome its swathe of prevailing crises.