Islamabad: The government on Monday invited the opposition to hold talks to “strengthen and take forward” the Charter of Democracy, a landmark 2006 accord signed by Nawaz Sharif and the late Benazir Bhutto to resist dictatorship and uphold democratic norms.
Addressing the Senate, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan urged opposition lawmakers to engage in dialogue instead of confrontation. He responded to a speech by Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas and emphasized that negotiations would reinforce democratic stability.
Sanaullah said the ruling coalition remained ready for talks in the interest of national progress. “We are prepared to sit together for the betterment of the country,” he asserted. He added that coalition parties had consistently supported dialogue, even during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
However, he criticized PTI founder Imran Khan for what he described as reluctance to engage with political stakeholders. Without naming specific institutions, Sanaullah suggested that the opposition sought talks with quarters unwilling to negotiate. He maintained that discussions should occur among elected representatives rather than through external forces.
Furthermore, he urged the PTI to rejoin parliamentary standing committees, noting that the party resigned from them in September last year. He described the move as a withdrawal from the political process and encouraged renewed participation.
Turning to Imran Khan’s health, Sanaullah said the issue remained before the courts. He stated that authorities complied with judicial directives regarding medical treatment. At the PTI’s request, he added, officials included an eye specialist in the medical board examining the former prime minister.
