Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would decide on talks with PTI once the opposition party clarifies its stance on negotiations.
PM Shehbaz on Tuesday extended an offer for talks with the opposition, but emphasised that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on legitimate matters.
Rana Sanaullah said that PTI outright rejected talks with the government on the directions of party founder Imran Khan, but Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), of which the PTI is a part, stated its openness to negotiate with the government.
Speaking to a private TV channel, the PM’s aide stated that 85 per cent of the TTAP is made up of PTI members, who have said they will not participate in negotiations at all. Sanaullah said, “We are hopeful that either the opposition as a whole will come to the table, or at least the 15pc who are open to talks will.” Emphasising that the government’s goal is dialogue with the opposition, the PM’s aide said there should have been dialogue between political parties from the beginning and expressed reservations about talks with the PTI.
The PM‘s aide added that if the PTI’s plan isn’t focused, then it will limit their path forward. The offer was directly initiated by the PM and PTI’s response has been received.