China asks Zardari to help defuse Islamabad crisis

Umar Cheema

China has played an important role in breaking the impasse between the government and PTI as the latest efforts by PPP in resolving this crisis have been resumed on the calling of Beijing ahead of Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan.

Zardari met Chinese Prime Minister among other leaders during his recent visit to Beijing. He was asked to play his role and convey the concerns of Chinese government over this tension that could jeopardize the visit of President Xi Jinping expected in next week who will announce a record investment of $32 billion in Pakistan, according to a PPP leader.

Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also in China but on a separate visit. It was in this context that PPP leadership geared up efforts and named Senator Rehman Malik as point-man to negotiate settlements with PTI and PAT. Zardari who is overseeing this process will stay in Islamabad as long as the issue is resolved, according to the sources.

As talks are in progress, China has also publicly expressed its concerns over this political tension urging Pakistan to resolve problems. “China is highly concerned about the situation in Pakistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular news briefing late Tuesday. “As a friendly neighbor, we sincerely hope all parties in Pakistan can proceed from the fundamental interest of the country and people, and resolve the problems through talks to maintain national stability,” he said.

As Zardari returned from China Monday, he rang to different leaders for discussing the solution of the crisis. Included among them were Sirajul Haq, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Maulana also highlighted the importance of the visit of Chinese President during his address to joint session on Tuesday. According to the insiders, PTI is likely to take back its resignations and Parliament will be made guarantor to ensure the implementation of recommendations to be made by the judicial commission set up to investigate the charges of election rigging.

Zardari previously made headlines when went to Washington apparently on a private visit but had a ‘chance’ meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden on an Iftar dinner hosted by a Pakistani-American. As his visit started amid the brewing crisis with dates for long marches already announced with Imran Khan’s pledge not to return unless Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation, it sparked debate coupled with speculations about the purpose of visit.

Analysts thought it was aimed at seeking Washington’s intervention to save democratic dispensation. The impression was further strengthened after the disclosure of a PPP leader and Sindh Assembly’s deputy speaker Shehla Raza who said Washington was a guarantor of an agreement, part of NRO, under which army would not stage any coup for three –terms of democratic governments spanning 15-years.