Imran urged to shun 'stubbornness'

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to abandon his "rigid stance" and sit with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for the betterment of the country.

Speaking at the first convocation ceremony of Rawalpindi Women's University on Tuesday, the governor stressed the importance of political dialogue and quipped that PTI should delay its "planned revolution" until after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

"I advise Imran Khan to sit with Zardari and things will improve. PTI can bring their revolution, but for now, they should hold off until the Shanghai conference concludes," the governor said while advising restraint in the current political climate.

He also slammed the PTI leadership, expressing disappointment over their divisive statements.

He urged political leaders to prioritise the nation's interests over personal agendas, highlighting past incidents where PTI protests coincided with high-profile international visits.

"When Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived, there was a protest in front of parliament, and when the Chinese president came, PTI attacked PTV. Such actions send the wrong message to the world," he said.

Reflecting on the need for political pragmatism, the governor pointed out that the nation needed the wisdom of seasoned politicians like Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, lamenting some leaders' "I will not budge" attitude.

"This country cannot move forward with a rigid mindset. Protesting is your right, but sitting at the table and discussing solutions is essential," he added.

Governor Haider also praised Asif Ali Zardari's political acumen, stating that Zardari was a leader capable of uniting diverse political factions.

"Pakistan has been blessed with a leader like Zardari, who has the ability to bring people together. Other political parties trust him, and he is the one who can mend the divides," he stated.

Commenting on the constitutional amendments, the governor stressed that PPP seeks to rectify the flaws introduced in the 19th Amendment, which had led to several controversial decisions by the judiciary.

"The 19th Amendment brought many issues that impacted subsequent judicial decisions. PPP wants to include the missing elements from the Charter of Democracy in the 18th Amendment," he explained.

The governor vowed to address these challenges regarding corruption and merit violations in universities. "There are major issues of corruption and merit violations in universities. If I can resolve them as chancellor, it will be a significant achievement," he noted.