Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday declared that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has achieved its goal of establishing contact with the country’s establishment, Express News reported.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament on Monday, he commented on the PTI’s ongoing negotiations with the government. “PTI has confirmed that they have contacted the establishment. If that is the case, what is the need to negotiate with us? asked.
Asif stressed that the PTI’s objective was to reach the establishment and they have achieved it. “Negotiations are part of politics, but their efforts were focused elsewhere,” he added.
Regarding external pressures, he reiterated Pakistan’s stance on sovereignty. “If there is any foreign demand for the release of the PTI leader, we will act in accordance with our national interests. “We do not interfere in the internal affairs of others and will not tolerate interference in our own,” he said.
Asif also answered questions about the Sharif brothers, stating that their meetings are a normal thing since they are family.
“During the PTI’s negotiations with us, cases against its leaders were ongoing and witnesses had already testified,” he said, adding that the PTI had acknowledged that the decisions in the case would not affect the negotiations.
The Defense Minister concluded by underlining the importance of preserving Pakistan’s internal and external interests while rejecting any external pressure.
