The federal government on Friday has invited Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) for talks for resolving country’s problems, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking in the Senate on Friday, PML-N Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui said the government has offered talks to the PTI founder. “The PTI founder is a national leader. We extend our hand to them today and expect them to also do the same,” he added.

The PML-N senator further remarked that if the Opposition can sit and hold talks with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai then why it could not sit with them also.

Irfan Siddiqui said they did not believe in political vendetta and that’s why there is no political prisoner in Pakistan today.

“It really pained me to see (former foreign minister) Shah Mehmood Qureshi in handcuffs. We do not want our rivals to face the injustices which we had faced,” he said and added “We had even not been given the right to appeal the verdict in Panama case.”

Irfan Siddiqui said the Opposition should sit with the government to take the country forward on the path of economic development, saying reconciliation cannot be achieved single-handedly, but it requires the participation of both sides.

The PML-N senator said it is the right of the Opposition to pinpoint the shortcomings of the government but it should be done in accordance with democratic norms.

Debate on presidential address

The Senate on Friday commenced discussion on the presidential address to the Joint Sitting of the Parliament.

Opening the discussion, Pakistan People's Party Senator Sherry Rehman said President Asif Ali Zardari's invitation for political reconciliation should be welcomed, saying there is a need to do away with the politics of confrontation and turn a new page in politics in order to steer the country out of challenges.

Senator Khalil Tahir said consensus should be built on important national issues. He said the politics of anarchy and chaos must come to an end.  He said the focus should be on improving economy.

Senator Ali Zafar said the treasury and opposition benches should work together on legislation. He said there should be detailed discussion on any issue, tabled for legislation, before its passage by the House.

Jam Saifullah Khan paid tributes to the sacrifices of security forces in the war on terrorism.

Senator Jan Muhammad said the current economic situation warrants that all the stakeholders sit together to find solution to the problems. He said the political parties will have to act in a responsible manner to lead the country in the right direction.

Others who spoke on the occasion included: Mohammad Humayun Mohmand Bushra Anjum Butt and Aslam Abro.

Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Monday at 3:00 pm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90raUi4bVUA 

Reporter Usman Khan