Throwing a spanner in the works

It is heartening to note that both Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri have responded positively to government's offer of talks reviving hopes for a negotiated solution to a crisis that has shaken the coup-prone nation. It is also encouraging to note that tension has significantly eased. The situation therefore shows that both are inching closer to trying to find a negotiated solution to end the confrontation. It is however, unclear what kind of face-saving solution the talks might bring that would suit all the parties and help avoid further confrontation or violence.
Yesterday's press conference of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal appears to be a spanner in the works; he has unnecessarily vitiated the situation although he is one of the key government negotiators. Such an attitude of a federal minister gives credence to a widely held perception that found its beast expression in Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah's remarks in the joint sitting of parliament on Wednesday. According to Business Recorder, the PPP MNA from Sukkur asked the government MPs that they must not act as 'Porus's elephant cavalry'.