Government welcomes Pakistan PTI’s clear stance towards dialogue with political rivals

Islamabad: Despite voicing worries about the opposition party’s “poor track record” in discussions, the government has praised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) apparent turn towards communication with political adversaries, according to The News International.

The comments were made while political tensions remained high in the wake of the PTI’s planned campaign of civil disobedience.

Prime Minister’s political affairs assistant Rana Sanaullah praised PTI’s willingness to conduct discussions on Geo News’ Capital Talk, pointing out that it was a change from the party’s previous reluctance to do so.

“When he [Imran Khan] was in government, he would say that ‘I would not hold talks with the opposition, and I would not spare them,” Sanaullah said.

He drew attention to the fact that Imran never made contact with opposition lawmakers or leader Shehbaz Sharif throughout his time in office.

Sanaullah emphasized that the PTI founder’s present position on negotiations is still unclear. His current position is that he will only engage in discussions with the establishment. However, he continued, “This is a very good thing if they [PTI] have realized the importance of dialogue.”

These remarks came after a crucial meeting between National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Omar Ayub, and Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza at the Speaker House in Islamabad.

According to sources, Sadiq and Qaiser agreed to sit at the bargaining table without any restrictions after the meeting, which was called after they spoke over the phone, according to The News International.

Sanaullah emphasized that the prime minister lacked the power to step in and stop the PTI’s demand for Imran Khan’s release. “The PTI founder is not under judicial custody due to an executive order but because of several cases registered against him,” he said.

Sanaullah also went over the government’s earlier attempts at discussion, which the PTI had turned down. “Shehbaz Sharif had stated in the presence of [then prime minister] Imran Khan that we were ready to sit with you to chalk out the charter of economy,” he claimed.

In the same vein, he said, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently reaffirmed his readiness to engage in floor discussions. But PTI repeatedly turned down these overtures, saying they would only talk to those “wielding real power” and not “powerless” authorities.

“If PTI is ready for dialogue, we are all set for it,” said Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, in a separate statement. He did, however, encourage PTI to take a positive stance.
“The PTI shouldn’t threaten to launch a disobedience campaign if negotiations aren’t conducted by that date. “This type of behavior is incompatible,” he said.

Siddiqui emphasized the need of putting the past behind us. “We don’t want riots; we just want to discuss. Pakistan has to change, and in order to do so, it must give up its outdated traditions,” he said. “Whether peaceful protest is done with slogans of Jihad-Al-Jihad, kill and die, and sticks with nails?” he said, further challenging the tactics of demonstration.

Speaking at the same event, PTI leader Latif Khosa reaffirmed the need for communication in resolving conflicts. “All the matters have to be resolved via dialogue,” he said.

According to The News International, he emphasized that Imran Khan’s release is still the PTI’s top priority since the present leadership cannot decide without his input.

Khosa defended the PTI’s policy change regarding negotiations by stating that their demands have not altered.

“The party would present the same demands even in talks with the ruling parties that it had been protesting against, including alleged rigging during the February 8 elections,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with meeting with the members of the ruling parties, and the PTI would present the same demands before the incumbent rulers, including releasing Imran Khan,” Khosa said, dismissing any criticism of meeting government leaders.