GUJRAT: Senior politician and former emir of Jamaat-i-Islami Sirajul Haq says the talks between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) may not bring about the political stability which is much needed to Pakistan’s struggling economy.

However, a grand national dialogue between all the political parties on developing consensus of all the political players on the matter of holding next general election in free, fair and transparent manners, may address our all national issues forthwith and until doing so, no positive outcome of the ongoing talks between the PML-N-led government and the PTI, can be expected, said the former senator.

He made these remarks while talking to Dawn at the residence of Kharian JI emir Chaudhary Imran Anwar where Punjab emir Dr Tariq Saleem and others were also present on Wednesday.

He said there was no difference in the policy of PML-N, PTI and PPP on the matter of establishment’s role in the national politics as every party is ‘available to the establishment for use’ due to which Pakistan’s economic conditions could not be strengthened.

Criticising the culture of political dynasties, he said how could these parties claim being democratic in the absence of democratic process to elect the leadership of these parties ‘as politics of inheritance was going on as a policy matter.’

Moreover, he said, the current system had failed to protect the rights of commoners as it had nothing to offer as a relief to the masses.

So the only way forward to steer the country out of political and economic crisis, is to make the electoral system of Pakistan non-controversial through holding a grand dialogue, he said.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025