The second cycle of negotiations between the Punjab government and the opposition on the reintegration of 26 members suspended from the Provincial Assembly ended on Sunday without any resolution, although the two parties agreed to continue the dialogue in the coming days.
According to familiar sources with the discussions, the government and the opposition have failed to reach a consensus concerning the suspension of the Pakistani legislators Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), whose membership remains inactive following an animated session last month.
The legislators were suspended by the president of the Punjab assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, after the opposition benches disrupted the speech of chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on June 27. The session fell into chaos as members of the Treasury and members of the opposition engaged in a physical altercation, despite the calls repeated by the speaker to restore the order.
Learn more: Punjab Chairman trains the committee to approach the references of the PTI suspended members
The current impasse follows a previous advisory meeting between the president and the AMP suspended, during which the disqualification references filed against the members were also discussed.
To resolve the impasse, President Khan trained a negotiation committee for eight members, including the chief whip Rana Arshad, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-Uhman, Khawaja Salman Rafie, Samiullah Khan and Ahmad Iqbal. An additional representation was included by the Allied parties: Ali Haider Gillani (PPP), Chaudhry Shafay Hussain (PML-Q) and Shoaib Siddiqui (IPP).
Despite no significant progress in the second cycle of talks, the two parties have shown to engage more.
Opposition chief Malik Ahmad Khan Bachhar said discussions were underway and that more meetings were planned. “It was our second meeting, and there was an agreement on the continuation of talks. Consultations are underway concerning the rules of procedure of the Assembly,” he told journalists.
Bachhar underlined the need for a consultation at the party level, noting that such complex problems could not be resolved in a single session. “We are two separate political entities. The speaker has urged membership of the rules, and once the consensus has been reached, it will be communicated to all stakeholders,” he added.
Also read: The suspended AMPs separated on the limitation of the protest
Addressing the media after the meeting, government representatives described the atmosphere as constructive. Punjab Minister of Finance, Mujtaba Shuja-Ur-Rehman, said that the sacredness of the Assembly was essential and that the opposition had recognized the importance of preserving its dignity. “One or two additional meetings may be necessary, but we hope a worthy resolution,” he said.
He said the government was not trying to overcome the suspended legislators, but simply required compliance with the assembly decorum. “These are elected representatives. Our goal is not punitive but to ensure that the room works in its prescribed rules,” added Shuja-Ur-Rehman.
