Many people are wondering about the hurdles in the PPP-led dialogue to end the deadlock between parties. They also ask if Imran Khan agrees to sit with his archrivals then would it affect his narrative against dynastic politics and corruption?

On Sunday night, Shaukat Piracha asked these questions on his show Rubaroo. He began mentioning the federal cabinet meeting, Khan’s speech, and the PPP’s attempt to start the dialogue.

The federal cabinet has directed the finance ministry to prepare a summary for taking guidance from Parliament on the matters related to the recent decision of judges and court orders.

PTI chief Khan repeated his claims of a foreign conspiracy. He said this in his address one year after being ousted from office in a vote of no confidence in April 2022. Meanwhile, the PPP has started approaching political parties to start a dialogue and break the ice.

PPP’s Nadeem Afzal Chan said that the majority of the party members, in its core committee meeting on Friday, are of the view that a dialogue should be held amid the ongoing crisis. He is of the view that it was the responsibility of the political leaders to sit together and have talks.

The PPP, being the coalition partner, has informed the government about it, he added. Chan confirmed that the party has given the mandate to former president Asif Ali Zardari to start a dialogue. For this, suggestions from all party members and CEC members were taken.

Chan reminded that the party has also taken similar decision when the PTI decided to resign from the assemblies in 2013. “Everyone wants free and fair elections. Having elections is one thing and having an election which is acceptable to everyone is another thing,” he said and called for an enabling environment.

Piracha had Alamgir Khan on his show in order to know the PTI’s point of view. He said that his party has kept his option for the last year, however, he claimed that the government ignored them when they wanted to return to the assembly and have discussion on the NAB chief appointment and a caretaker setup.

According to Alamgir, dialogue cannot proceed until intentions are not clear.

When asked whether this time negotiations will happen, he said that Imran Khan has appointed President Arif Alvi as their person for talks with elections on the agenda. But he claimed that the government was running away from polls due to the popularity of his party chief.

Senior journalist Imtiaz Alam, who led a civil society delegation to bring all warring political parties to the negotiating table, said that “surprisingly” Khan showed a positive response to their call during their meeting.

“With us, two of PTI’s leaders, Pervez Khattak and Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference outside Khan’s residence announced that they agreed with the mediators’ initiative on starting talks on political and electoral reforms,” Alam said as he spoke about his engagements.

After this, the civil society group met with six nationalist parties who also agreed on this. Off the record, Alam had also met with PDM head Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The meeting took place after he contacted PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who asked him to contact Rehman.

There was no result in the meeting, he said and the PDM had advised him to meet Zardari. But it could not happen. “I am very happy that PPP has decided to PDM parties. I think talking with the parties in ruling alliance was not enough because talks should be held with the PTI and we can help them in this.”

He went on to add that the constitutional and democratic process was breaking down as the Supreme Court is divided. “A horrifying campaign is running against SC judges,” he said and described the Monday’s day as “very important”.

The senior journalist appealed the top court to summon a meeting of their own judges to have that unity. He lamented that the announcement from the administration, asking for the resignation of the CJP is “uncalled for”. This will lead to another war between the executive and the top court, he warned.

“The judiciary tried to fill the vacuum, left after the establishment backtracked, which lead to its internal division,” Alam said.

When ask whether the PTI chairman would shun his ego this time to meet archrivals, the senior journalist hinted that it would happen. Khan feels and it has been seen that effort is under way to remove him from the political field, he claimed amid the cases filed by the PML-N against him.

“It won’t be acceptable that you remove any main party from the electoral process. The wrongdoing with Nawaz should be undone through a judicial process,” Alam said and stressed the need for some confidence-building measures.

He called for an end to terrorism and sedition cases registered against politicians. He wondered why the PTI was not being allowed to return to Parliament.

PPP’s Chan is of the view that politicians should avoid badmouthing while talking about the language used by PTI for their rivals.

“Those who were prompting PTI to make mistakes are retired and some are on the side and some political people are still with Khan. When I was in PTI and when a point related to dialogue was raised they [some political people] got irked,” he said and believes that the opposition should be given fair trial.

Alamgir of the PTI reiterated that talks will only be held on polls, adding that the party will not accept NRO. “We got the mandate on accountability. People are not accepting the facilitators who brought PDM,” he said and exhorted that an impartial setup should be brought in provinces at the time of polls.

But PPP’s Chan negated such views, saying that the PTI’s cabinet gave NRO to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif by sending him abroad.

“The mandate [to PTI] was given for reforms. The people don’t want people arrested. Under accountability, a free and fair institution is made which conducts across the board accountability. But you [PTI] ignore judges, generals, media and business tycoon, bureaucrats and just arrest politicians,” he said and added that mistakes are being made from both sides that must end.

“Everyone has to step down and sit for the people,” Chan said.

Senior journalist Alam fears that Khan and the PDM are reaching a blind alley and finally the system will be destroyed and they will be sent home. “Political matters are resolved by politicians.”

Secondly, he added that Khan needs NRO to get not disqualified.

“I think it [Khan’s participation for dialogue] will suit him as the hurdles in his way because of his attitude or mistake will be removed and his support base will accept it. The government should not think that it can delay elections beyond October. It will be there mistake [if they think so]. You have opportunity to correct your measures,” Alam said.