PM says dialogue on legitimate issues possible as PTI founder’s sister rules out talks
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of the federal cabinet at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. PHOTO: PID
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the government was open to dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but would not accept what he called “illegal demands or blackmail.”
He made these remarks while speaking at a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad.
“These days, the PTI and its allies are talking about dialogue. I have repeatedly stated in the National Assembly that if the PTI is serious about negotiations, the government is equally ready,” the prime minister said.
However, Shehbaz said talks could only move forward if they focused on “legitimate issues.”
He stressed that political harmony among all parties was essential for the development and prosperity of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has rejected the idea of dialogue by the party.
Speaking to reporters outside the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi a day earlier, he said that any party leader advocating for talks was not aligned with Imran Khan or the PTI.
Read: Government and allies reject opposition alliance letter
She also said she was not aware of the statement issued after a two-day conference of the Pakistan Constitution Protection Movement and had not been formally informed about it.
On Monday, the opposition alliance issued a joint statement after two days of meetings in Islamabad.
The statement included demands for an investigation into the February 24 general election and called for dialogue with the government.
Reacting to the opposition’s demands, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government is not opposed to dialogue.
The Pakistan People’s Party, a key coalition partner in the federal government, also supported the talks but with conditions.
PPP Secretary Nayyer Bukhari said The express PAkGazette Such dialogue will only be meaningful if confidence-building measures are adopted.
“They want to dialogue with other sectors,” he said.
