NA Speaker renews offer for dialogue, urges opposition to resolve issues through talks

ISLAMABAD (MNN); National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has once again signaled openness to dialogue with the opposition, reiterating that discussion is the only way forward to settle ongoing political disputes. He made the remarks while meeting a delegation of opposition lawmakers at Parliament House on Friday.

The Speaker has made similar attempts in the past to bridge the divide between the government and PTI, but efforts have produced little progress, with major differences still unresolved.

According to a statement issued by the NA Secretariat, Sadiq held the interaction in his chamber shortly after the National Assembly session was adjourned due to lack of quorum.

The opposition delegation included Senators Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Faisal Javed, former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, MNAs Iqbal Afridi, Atif Khan, Sardar Latif Khosa and Jamal Ahsan Khan.

“Our relationship of respect and brotherhood is greater than politics. I have remained in contact with you all since 2014. Politics is temporary — but relationships among parliamentarians should last a lifetime,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.

He emphasised that he had always supported dialogue and maintained that negotiation remains the best path to resolving disputes.

During the meeting, Barrister Gohar raised concerns over PTI founder Imran Khan’s family being denied access to him in prison. The opposition lawmakers reportedly appreciated Sadiq’s role in attempting to open channels for dialogue.

Talks between the government and PTI have been a recurring but stalled theme since last year. After more than a year of political confrontation, both sides initiated discussions in late December, but negotiations broke down over key issues — including judicial inquiries into the events of May 9, 2023, and Nov 26, 2024, as well as the release of PTI workers.

Several attempts at talks followed, including renewed offers in February and again in August, but PTI questioned the government’s intent, citing continued arrests and crackdowns. The Speaker most recently repeated his willingness to mediate on November 13, as PTI lawmakers staged protests during the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill.