ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would pursue a policy of “resistance and negotiations” but does not rule out the possibility of reconsidering a February 8 protest call provided there is some progress in possible talks with the government and other stakeholders, according to a senior party leader.
With renewed calls for dialogue, the PTI is giving contradictory signals. The party said it has authorized Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), an opposition alliance, to start talks with the government, but at the same time insists on agitation.
“This is not a single-point agenda. Resistance is part of our politics and our right,” senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser told The Express PAkGazette here on Monday.
“However, we also take dialogue and collective decisions seriously. The prime minister’s stance is part of that broader strategy. It is about defending our rights,” added Qaiser, former president of the National Assembly.
Qaiser represents the PTI in the Opposition Grand Alliance and currently serves as general secretary of the TTAP, which recently responded positively to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for dialogue.
Amid calls for reconciliation, the senior PTI leader defended the party’s position. He stressed that the calls for protests were fully aligned with the PTI’s broader strategy and had the backing of the leadership.
Asked whether the PTI’s stance on the resistance would hamper its ability to negotiate effectively with the government, Qaiser replied: “We cannot stand idly by while injustices take place. Our leader Imran Khan is in prison and we are being denied our fundamental rights. We must continue our fight for justice.”
Qaiser further explained that PTI’s approach in the negotiations was not personal but principled. “We advocate the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, civil supremacy and human rights,” he said. “PTI’s objective remains clear: free, fair and acceptable elections.”
Addressing whether PTI had set red lines for negotiations, Qaiser asserted that there were no hard limits. “When the agenda is discussed we will see what is possible and what is not. There are no red lines as such,” he said. “But our founding principles, the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law and democracy, are non-negotiable.”
Furthermore, while rumors of covert engagements with the government have circulated, Qaiser confirmed that there had been no such interactions thus far. However, he reiterated that the PTI remained open to discussions with any party to defend the Constitution and restore democracy. “We are not seeking any NRO for ourselves or Imran Khan,” he said. “We can talk to anyone, but our principles will not change.”
