ISLAMABAD (MNN); The government on Monday invited the opposition to hold talks aimed at “strengthening and taking forward” the Charter of Democracy — a 2006 agreement signed by Nawaz Sharif and the late Benazir Bhutto, committing to struggle against dictatorship.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah addressed the Senate, responding to a speech by Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas, and said the government was willing to hold dialogue with the opposition to strengthen democracy rather than resorting to confrontation.
“We are ready to sit with you for the betterment of the country,” Sanaullah said, noting that even during PTI’s rule, coalition parties had emphasized the need for talks. He added that PTI founder Imran Khan was not ready to engage in political dialogue, calling his “stubbornness a big hurdle.”
Without explicitly naming anyone, but apparently referring to the establishment, Sanaullah said the opposition wanted talks with those unwilling to engage. He urged the PTI to “rejoin parliamentary standing committees” after resigning in September last year.
Sanaullah criticized the party for its “reluctance to become part of the political process,” but emphasized that the government was ready to move forward democratically and invited the opposition to collaborate on economic and democratic pacts, stressing that negotiations are held between political parties, not through “external forces.”
Regarding Imran Khan’s health, he said the matter was before the courts and that the government had followed court directives, including appointing an eye specialist to the medical board examining him.
Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas, speaking before Sanaullah, criticized authorities over the recent sit-in at Parliament House, claiming it was blocked to prevent peaceful protest by parliamentarians. He said the protesters’ only demand was proper medical treatment for Imran Khan in the presence of his personal physicians and family. Abbas also assured that the opposition would never partake in conspiracies to topple the government, but stressed that the issue of Imran’s eye ailment must be addressed.
Sanaullah responded that the police had to make security arrangements when opposition workers were called to the protest venue.
