PM offers talks but PTI sets conditions

Omar Ayub calls for release of party founder

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again extended an olive branch to his incarcerated political adversary, PTI founder Imran Khan, inviting him to the table for dialogue amid the ongoing political turmoil.

“If their [PTI] founder is facing troubles [in jail], then I reiterate: come, let’s sit down and talk,” said the premier during his address in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Recalling a time when political rivals could still find common ground, the premier said, “There was a time in this house when politicians would severely criticise one another, but they would also stand with their rivals during times of happiness and sorrow.”

Touching upon the 2018 elections, Prime Minister Shehbaz remarked, “We joined the parliament despite the [rigged] polls. The sort of slogans that were raised during my first speech will always be remembered as a dark chapter in the history books.”

He further stressed the need for fairness, stating, “If someone is facing any injustice, then I believe that the scales of justice should be in favour of those [being victimised], there is no difference over it — whether it be any politician or anyone from any walk of life.”

The prime minister lamented the deepening divide between politicians, recalling his previous attempts to engage Imran Khan in dialogue. “So who is responsible for this bitterness [between politicians]? We don’t even shake hands now,” he expressed.

He also highlighted the harsh treatment faced by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah during their incarcerations.

The political feud between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been simmering for years, especially after the disputed February 8 elections, which Imran Khan’s party claims it had won.

Omar Ayub

Responding to the prime minister’s call for dialogue, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub firmly stated that the PTI would consider negotiations only after their leader and other incarcerated members were released.

“This should be in your minds: you torture our workers, you’ve kept our lady workers in prison vans at 45°C. My prime minister Imran Khan was kept in a death cell, there’s an oven-like environment over there,” Ayub passionately declared amid the uproar from the treasury benches.

Despite the ruckus, Ayub maintained that the proceedings of the house could only continue if government members showed respect to their opposition colleagues. Addressing the premier’s plea for reconciliation, he added, “Reconciliation will take place when you realize the abuse of Yasmin Rashid, Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Hasan Niazi.”

In a heated exchange, Ayub retorted to the prime minister’s claims of harsh conditions by alleging that former premier Nawaz Sharif had the luxury of air conditioners in his jail cell.