LAHORE: The ruling PML-N has indicated that it may go beyond the Supreme Court’s judicial commission in an effort to resolve the political crisis. At the same time, mediators are urging the prime minister to come up with a complete negotiations package.

The government contacted Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq, who is mediating between the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and asked him to expedite his efforts because of fears of a terrorist attack on the sit-in in Islamabad.

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and member of the PTI’s core committee, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, said that Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar had assured him that the government would consider PTI’s demands if the party withdrew its call for resignation of the prime minister.

Mr Rashid claimed to have declined the offer and told the governor that the matter was now in the court of the masses.

Dawn has learnt that JI leaders have advised the prime minister to give more concessions to the PTI.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already announced formation of a judicial commission comprising three judges of the Supreme Court to investigate the PTI’s allegations about rigging in the 2013 general elections.

A JI leader claimed that the government had hinted at accepting the PTI demand for a vote audit in 10 constituencies and re-election on seats where irregularities were found and had offered a constitutional amendment for electoral reforms.

Although relieved at what it terms the small turnout of protesters, the government is worried about chances of prolonging the sit-in by the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) because it is receiving daily alerts from intelligence agencies about threats of terrorist strikes in Islamabad.

Fearing that the situation may go out of control if any untoward incident takes place in the federal capital, the government is urging the mediators to step up their efforts.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is reported to have urged Mr Sirajul Haq to rush to Islamabad. The JI emir, who was leading a Gaza ‘million march’ in Karachi on Sunday in support of the people of Palestine, planned to reach Islamabad by night.

On the PAT front, however, the government is mostly relying on the people who had guaranteed that Dr Tahirul Qadri would return to Lahore after holding a peaceful protest in Islamabad.

The Punjab governor, one of the guarantors, is reaching out to leaders of the school of thought Dr Qadri belongs to for exerting their influence on the fiery cleric. He called Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, chief of Sunni Tehreek, on Sunday and asked him to use his good offices and persuade the PAT chief not to take the matter to a point of no return.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2014