ISLAMABAD - Giving green signal for resumption of talks even in the face of the stiff position taken by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed his point man Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to jolt down the terms of reference (TOR) for reopening of stalled talks.
It was with this backing from his party chief that Dar in a media chat in federal capital on Sunday said that talks with PTI could resume even now provided they (PTI) call off their protest plan and agree to sit across the table to search for negotiated settlement of the dispute.
Sources in the government informed The Nation that throughout Sunday those who matter in the ruling PML-N remained in contact with prime minister either directly at his Raiwind residence or on telephone to discuss and deliberate on the modus operandi to deal with the PTI, be it on negotiation table or to handle them in Faisalabad where Imran Khan has given a complete shutdown call for today (Monday).
Sources in PML-N said that a consultative meeting of party leadership would be held here today (Monday) under the chair of prime minister to devise future course of action. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would brief the meeting on the so far developments and his interaction and telephonic contact with some of key PTI leaders.
Sources said that the option of resumption of negotiations would be the top priority of the government but in case the PTI would not come to terms on this option then other options to deal with the ongoing protest plan of PTI would also came under discussion.
They further said that Premier Sharif would also take up with the heads of all the Parliamentary parties various options to deal with the PTI so that if the talks could not be resumed due to the stubborn attitude of PTI Chairman Imran Khan or any other such reason, the government must be having the backing and support of all the parliamentary parties on handling the PTI through other means.
Sources in the ruling PML-N informed that Prime Minister Nawaz would likely take input from the members of Political Jirga on the situation arising out of the stiff position taken by Imran, but there is no possibility of granting any role to Jirga this time and in case of resumption of dialogue the government would directly deal with PTI leaders, sources added.
Sources closely watching the developments on this front said that majority of the PML-N leaders were not in favour of resumption of dialogue process and wanted the PTI protest die its natural death like their sit-in. But it was the pressure from other political forces which had brought softness in the stance of the ruling PML-N and after coming out with clear 'No' to the offer for resumption of talks from Imran Khan their leaders have taken U-turn on their earlier stance.
Sources in the government informed that in the meeting at Raiwind Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was presented various plans to tackle Monday's shutdown call for Faisalabad given by Imran Khan. The meeting which was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his key advisers, including Rana Sanaullah and Zaheem Qadri, decided that the focus would be on the options to handle the situation without letting it turn violent.
PML-N sources confirmed that PM Nawaz had given strict instructions to the party leadership in Faisalabad, a financial hub of Punjab, to adopt maximum restraint and avoid confronting the PTI activists so that things could not turn violent to the disadvantage of all.
On the other hand police force was also directed to deal the protesters softly and avoid use of force unless and until the things shape up for some clash like situation between the people and the protesting PTI activists.
But the level of restraint on part of police force would be determined by the PTI leaders and activists and their way of protest. If they would take law into hand or forcibly get the markets and shops closed then law would take its course to protect the lives and properties of the people, a senior PML-N leader said.
Sources aware of the developments taking place on this front informed The Nation that in case the Monday protest would take ugly shape then state machinery would come into action against the protesters or they would be rounded up for taking law into their hands. But such a situation would further dampen the chances of negotiations between the two sides.
Both the government and PTI would surely not want to take the things to such an extent but at the same time PTI wants to make their show a big success while government would definitely be taking measures to flop their plan of complete shutdown of the city, a political analyst said, adding that the pace and frequency of the future talks between the two sides would greatly depend on the outcome of Monday match between the two.
Sources in ruling PML-N said that government was taking measures to make the PTI show a complete failure in order force them cut down their demands on the negotiation table while on the other hand PTI would definitely be trying to make it a complete success to enhance their bargaining position.
Sources in government said that Senator Ishaq Dar had made some contacts with the PTI leaders but could not convince them on deferring their ongoing protest plan and that was the reason the talks, which were to resume on Sunday, were deferred to see the results of Monday protest of PTI.