ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to call off its long march towards Islamabad and resolve political differences through dialogue.
Addressing the inauguration of the Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad today, the prime minister said political confrontation was damaging the country’s economic progress. He said the government and opposition had already held negotiations but failed to reach an agreement.
Shehbaz said the government had made efforts through the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party to engage PTI leaders. However, he claimed the opposition had raised additional demands that prevented the talks from succeeding.
The prime minister warned that protests and long marches could disrupt exports, imports and manufacturing. He said Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stability over the past two and a half years and should now focus on economic growth.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said the government remained willing to resume negotiations, but PTI must first withdraw its protest activities. He also said constitutional and political options were available to deal with the situation.
Recent government-opposition talks ended in a deadlock over counterterrorism measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI’s demand for access to imprisoned founder Imran Khan.
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