'No talks until Imran's mea culpa for May 9'

Ministers throw the ball in jailed PTI founder's court

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has shut the door on any potential dialogue with its arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unless its chief Imran Khan extends a public apology for the May 9 riots - a day the former prime minister alleges was orchestrated to unjustly incarcerate him and suppress his party.

PML-N's central secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal said negotiations were off the table until the PTI founder me clean and apologised for his political games that led to the May 9 mayhem.

"No negotiations can occur until the founder of PTI apologises for his political manoeuvres leading to the May 9 chaos," Iqbal asserted during a media interaction after a party meeting chaired by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.

He accused PTI of attempting to undermine the nation globally through its social media campaigns.

He claimed that PTI's founder was enjoying a "five-star" jail experience and scoffed at any notion of revenge, insisting that PTI must prove its innocence or face the consequences.

"They want an NRO, but that won't happen. They demanded receipts from us; now it's their turn to show proof or account for their crimes," Iqbal asserted.

Iqbal stressed that meaningful talks with PTI could only occur if the party renounces its "anti-national" politics and seeks forgiveness from the nation.

The meeting, chaired by Nawaz, also delved into economic matters, with Nawaz instructing federal and provincial governments to reduce expenses to provide relief in electricity bills.

Iqbal said that the party was working to rectify four decades of deficiencies in the power sector and aims to reduce electricity rates in the coming years.

On the local governance front, Iqbal mentioned that a briefing on Punjab's new local government system was presented, with Nawaz Sharif stressing the need for immediate reforms.

The PML-N aims to hold local body elections promptly after the necessary legal amendments, he added.

Similarly, speaking to the media after the same meeting, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also firmly stated that he did not support negotiations with PTI.

Asif left no room for doubt, asserting, "I am not in favour of talks with PTI."

Addressing a question about potential talks with PTI facilitated through Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Asif stated, "I am not a part of any such team; I am not in favour of negotiations with PTI."

Meanwhile, sources and reports have indicated that PML-N has been in indirect contact with PTI through Mahmood Khan Achakzai, with reports suggesting that the party has offered backdoor negotiations.

The party leadership has entrusted Rana Sanaullah, the prime minister's advisor on political affairs, with the task of liaising with Achakzai to explore this dialogue.