Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: In a fresh bid to open political dialogue, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended yet another olive branch to the PTI-backed opposition leader in the National Assembly, Mehmood Khan Achakzai. Well-placed sources told Business Recorder that Sharif personally sent a message inviting Achakzai for a face-to-face meeting, offering the choice of the Prime Minister’s Office or the Prime Minister’s House as venues. However, Achakzai reportedly declined, preferring that discussions take place at a neutral location, signalling a cautious approach to the overture. Initially, the opposition leader appeared willing to hold the talks at the residence of Rana Sanaullah Khan, the adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, though final confirmation of the venue remains under consideration. Sources indicated that back-and-forth communications between the government and opposition had been ongoing since last week, highlighting a careful, behind-the-scenes negotiation effort. The anticipated agenda of the proposed meeting is both wide-ranging and politically charged. Key points include the mounting uncertainty surrounding the appointments of the new Chief Election Commissioner and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) – positions that have remained vacant for over a year, prompting growing concern over electoral oversight. Additionally, insiders suggest that the dialogue would address sensitive matters concerning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders and workers currently in detention. Sources suggested that, if realised, these talks may offer a brief respite in a political scene otherwise defined by acrimony and mistrust. While both sides remain circumspect, the overture underscores the government’s desire to engage the opposition on critical governance and electoral matters. Yet, the opposition’s insistence on a neutral venue reflects the underlying tension, hinting that even in dialogue, cautious diplomacy remains the order of the day. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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