Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for negotiations, calling the government’s approach a reflection of “political panic and intellectual collapse.”
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the government was using the offer of talks as a “double game” and an attempt to mislead the public rather than sincerely resolve the country’s political crisis.
The statement came a day after the prime minister reiterated his offer for talks with the opposition but emphasised that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on “legitimate matters.”
Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz said that PTI founder Imran Khan and his associates were also discussing holding talks. The prime minister said that he had previously invited PTI leaders for dialogue and had also extended the invitation on the National Assembly floor.
“Discussions could only be held on legitimate demands. Blackmailing will not work under the guise of negotiations, said the prime minister.
In today’s statement, Akram maintained that the government should refrain from imposing preconditions for talks, stressing that genuine dialogue cannot take place under coercive terms.
He further said that demanding an apology from the former ruling party reflected the rulers’ confusion, fear and lack of political direction. Calling the offer contradictory and insincere, Akram said PTI viewed the proposal as a continuation of the government’s double standards rather than a sincere attempt at political reconciliation.
“PTI would not, under any circumstances, engage in negotiations with the current government,” he noted.
The information secretary added that if the government was serious about resolving the country’s ongoing political and constitutional crises through dialogue, it should instead approach Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan.
In this regard, he suggested that the authorities could initiate contact with leaders such as Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.