Editorial
Assuming extreme positions
Seek solution through dialogue
Begum Zia has rejected the PM's offer of a dialogue saying that there is no scope for talks and that the government must resign while ensuring that the caretaker system stays. She is prepared to discuss on, what she calls, an acceptable caretaker government only after the present government resigns. The BNP chief has not however elaborated what according to her would be an "acceptable" caretaker government.
While the PM said that the government was open to suggestions, her previous statement carried an element of finality on the issue of caretaker government. And the PM cited judicial compulsion in this regard. The matter has been further confused with different people in the government and the ruling party coming out with their own interpretations of the verdict.
We have said in this very column repeatedly that in politics there is no scope for inflexibility. Rigid positions and the stand off between the major political parties in the past had led to serious consequences. We regret to say that, if anything, the distance has increased and with it the animus between the AL and BNP.
We must admit that the PM's comments had sent out mixed signals, and she must clarify her position when she says that the government is not rigid on the caretaker issue, and that the government is indeed honest about finding a way out of the likely impasse.
We cannot but express our consternation at the direction politics is moving towards. Given the already charged political situation the articulated positions of the parties cannot sit well with the general public who would not like to see similar situation as that of October 2006 revisit us.
The Supreme Court verdict, while declaring the 13th Amendment illegal, has however suggested that two general elections could be held under the caretaker system. There is always a way out provided there is honest political will, which we hope both the parties would display.
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