Right to know.

IT is encouraging to note that the PPP is now pushing for greater engagement of public representatives in ongoing negotiations with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently tweeted that he will be reaching out to allied parties currently in the coalition government to form a consensus on the way forward and that his party believes all decisions on talks with the TTP to thrash out a peace deal should be taken in parliament. The people of Pakistan deserve at least that. The Pakistani state and both the incumbent and recently ousted governments have been incredibly opaque on the matter thus far. Despite months of talks, we still know only the broad contours of the discussions taking place. There is a concern in some quarters that negotiators may be making too many concessions to the TTP, for too little in return. Pakistan has reportedly already released many captive foot soldiers and a few high-ranking militants to keep the talks going, even though the UN Security Council has warned that the prospects for actual peace being attained are very weak. There is also a lack of clarity on how far the negotiators will accede to the TTP's reported demands for unchallenged autonomy and a parallel legal system in north-western parts of...