Former Punjab governor and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Sardar Latif Khosa on Monday dubbed the current political situation as reflective of a 'fascist dictatorship'.
"The Pakistan Democratic Movement [PDM] is very clear on its fate if elections take place," he said, adding that polls are being delayed as the people are not in favour of the PDM.
Speaking to the media at the Lahore High Court (LHC), he said that such a regime can only rule through force. "I have never seen such a dark era throughout my life," he stated, questioning "what sort of message are we sending to the world."
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Khosa condemned the arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and said not engaging in dialogue with former prime minister Imran Khan "is tantamount to pushing the country towards destruction".
When asked whether the PPP would accept those distancing themselves from the PTI, Khosa said “No, absolutely not. Changing party loyalties has ruined our political culture”.
He also said that he is not in support of military court trials as they hold neither moral nor constitutional grounds.
When asked about missing journalists, Khosa mentioned the killing of Arshad Sharif and lamented "what would be the country’s future when its journalists were not safe".
The ex-governor's remarks come a day after Imran's invitation for dialogue was met with a lack of response, as two prominent ministers in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet have said that the chairman of the PTI crossed the redline on May 9.
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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that there could be no negotiations with Imran because he went too far in conspiring against the military at the behest of foreign forces.
Violence erupted across the country on May 9, following the arrest of Imran in a graft case. The rioters attacked several government buildings, including sensitive military installations.
The government has since pursued an aggressive crackdown against the party leadership and others alleged of being involved in the vandalism and causing public unrest.
The ruling coalition also said that protestors will be tried under the Army Act at military courts.
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