Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday congratulated Mahmood Khan Achakzai on his appointment as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. At the same time, he renewed the government’s call for dialogue with opposition parties, emphasizing that the Prime Minister’s invitation for negotiations remains open.
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“Previous offer from the government had not received a positive response from the opposition,” Rana Sanaullah said during an informal conversation with reporters inside the Parliament House. He added that the Speaker’s Office would be the most appropriate forum if talks are to move forward.
Rana Sanaullah described Achakzai’s appointment as a confidence-building measure that should be welcomed positively. He highlighted that the move could provide an opportunity to ease political tensions and foster constructive engagement between the government and opposition.
When asked whether former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif played a role in Achakzai’s appointment, Rana Sanaullah said he was not aware of any such involvement. He noted that the National Assembly speaker would be better placed to clarify the matter.
Regarding a potential meeting between Achakzai and PTI founder Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah described the issue as separate and said it had been misused in the past. He added that the matter could be discussed further in the coming days and might arise when Achakzai meets the Prime Minister.
The senior politician also mentioned that he had previously suggested Achakzai raise the issue directly with the Prime Minister, but the advice was not accepted at the time.
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Rana Sanaullah’s remarks signal the government’s intent to encourage dialogue while maintaining a focus on procedural channels and parliamentary norms, framing Achakzai’s new role as an opportunity for political engagement.