A multi-party alliance has signalled that it is ready for talks with the government but demanded that the rulers show seriousness as the doors for negotiations in politics should never be closed.
Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the alliance, which also includes the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was ready to initiate dialogue with the government.
“We believe that the doors for negotiations should never be closed. We noted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement with seriousness,” he said.
Khokhar was referring to the prime minister’s reiteration of his offer for talks with the opposition — but at the same time, emphasised that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on “legitimate matters.”
Addressing his cabinet, the prime minister said PTI founder Imran Khan and his associates were also discussing the possibility of talks. He added that he had earlier invited PTI leaders for dialogue and had reiterated the offer on the floor of the National Assembly.
“Discussions could only be held on legitimate demands. Blackmailing will not work under the guise of negotiations, he added.
The two sides attempted talks at the end of December last year, following more than a year of strained relations, but the effort yielded no outcome. Several subsequent attempts to revive the negotiations were also unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Khokhar, in today’s programme, said that all allied parties, including the PTI, had been taken on board during consultations. He said TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai had already stated that if the government was serious, he would himself obtain the PTI founder’s signatures.
The alliance leader said the TTAP would not demand the PTI founder’s release or the withdrawal of cases during the negotiations. He added that they were ready to hold talks with the government on the Constitution and a new charter. He said that if the government moved forward, the alliance would then consider the next phase — forming a committee for talks.
However, moments before Khokhar’s assurance, the PTI had rejected the prime minister’s offer for talks, calling the government’s approach a reflection of “political panic and intellectual collapse.”
What are the demands?
A meeting of the TTAP was held under the chairmanship of Achakzai earlier in the day. The meeting was attended by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, BNP-M leader Sajid Tareen, PTI leader Asad Qaiser, and Khokhar. Opposition alliance spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai was also present.
The opposition alliance’s spokesperson said a new national charter was vital to steer the country out of the prevailing political and economic crisis, deteriorating law and order, and governance failures. The spokesperson said there was an urgent need for a new charter to end public despair.
He said the alliance was ready to hold talks on transparent elections and the appointment of a consensus Election Commissioner. Yousafzai added that the TTAP was also prepared for negotiations on strengthening parliament, ensuring the rule of law, and safeguarding human rights.
The spokesperson said the alliance was willing to engage in dialogue to reinforce constitutional and democratic values. He said Mahmood Achakzai had presented the alliance’s position on the floor of the House in response to the Speaker’s invitation for talks.
The opposition alliance’s spokesperson said political parties were ready to reach a consensus on the restoration of the Constitution and the establishment of parliamentary and civilian supremacy. It added that Mahmood Achakzai was taking responsibility for securing the PTI founder’s signatures on the proposed new charter.
‘Double game’
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the government was using the offer of talks as a “double game” and an attempt to mislead the public rather than sincerely resolve the country’s political crisis.
Akram maintained that the government should refrain from imposing preconditions for talks, stressing that genuine dialogue cannot take place under coercive terms.
He further said that demanding an apology from the former ruling party reflected the rulers’ confusion, fear and lack of political direction.
Calling the offer contradictory and insincere, Akram said PTI viewed the proposal as a continuation of the government’s double standards rather than a sincere attempt at political reconciliation.
“PTI would not, under any circumstances, engage in negotiations with the current government,” he noted.
The information secretary added that if the government was serious about resolving the country’s ongoing political and constitutional crises through dialogue, it should instead approach Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan.
In this regard, he suggested that the authorities could initiate contact with leaders such as Achakzai and Abbas.
At a national conference of the opposition alliance held on Saturday, Achakzai declared that the Constitution had been reduced to tatters. Achakzai urged former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to step forward and initiate dialogue to steer the country out of crisis.
However, PTI founder Khan dismissed Achakzai’s call for dialogue. “My message for Sohail Afridi is to prepare for a street movement. The entire nation must rise for their rights!!,” a post on Imran’s X handle read.
