LAHORE: Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that it would be better if Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari sit down to resolve the issues as the only solution is negotiation.
Addressing a seminar here, he said, “The summary of 40 years of politics is that the country cannot come out of crises unless politicians sit together,” stressing that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not agree to the talks. before November 26. He recalled that Nawaz Sharif and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also admitted their mistakes before the Charter of Democracy and stressed the importance of admitting their mistakes before holding talks. “However, regret can be expressed if he does not want to accept mistakes,” said an aide to the prime minister.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the talks must go ahead despite the bitterness. He said that after contacting the opposition, he asked the prime minister to form a government committee.
“My role was to facilitate a dialogue that should be conducted by both committees,” said the NA spokesperson.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said the country was in a state of internal conflict, blaming PTI founder former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and former chief justice Saqib Nisar for the problems.
Saad Rafique expressed hope for talks between the government and the opposition, saying: “The talks will be serious and there will be a way out.”
Rafique said all three political parties were unfortunately victims of “remote control politics”, adding that many people would become irrelevant if the situation continued.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif questioned the PTI’s intentions after the opposition party was set for talks. “What happened in the last 15 days that they are now ready for talks?” he asked. Asif said he is unable to understand why PTI founder Imran Khan has now turned to dialogue.
He, however, called for the involvement of all stakeholders in the negotiation process, adding that all power centers of the country should sit together, find solutions and be part of the talks. He said the stakeholders – the military, bureaucracy, politicians, judiciary and media – need to sit together to solve the country’s problems.
He warned the government’s negotiating team not to let PTI founder Imran Khan “use you”.
The Minister of Defense said that he was not against negotiations and hoped that the negotiations would be successful. Without naming PTI founder Imran Khan, he pointed out that the history of 10 to 15 years showed that only PMLN took the initiative to negotiate.
He said the PTI founder had not shown loyalty to anyone, not even his party mates. It is said that the former prime minister did not even attend the funerals of those who spent his life with him. “He uses people. Don’t let him take advantage of you, I warn you,” he said.
The PMLN leader lamented that whether they were in power or not, they always offered talks but never got a positive response.
Sabah adds: Separately, speaking to the media in Gujranwala, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government is sincerely engaged in negotiations with the PTI for progress in the interest of political stability in the country.
He said the government wants to build on the momentum of hard-earned economic progress over the past few months and political stability is essential to that end.
The minister noted with satisfaction that the government’s economic achievements are evident and appreciated at all levels, “even by our political opponents”. He said incidents of violence like May 9 cannot be overlooked and anyone who commits violence must face the law.
Tarar said there is conclusive evidence against all the people who have been convicted so far in incidents related to May 9. He stated that the right to a fair trial is guaranteed.
