Talks: govt throws ball back in PTI's court

PML-N's Rana Sanaullah says talks hinge on PTI unity

The government appeared to throw the ball back into the opposition's court on Friday, as Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would decide whether to initiate talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) once the party clearly articulates its position on negotiations, amid mixed signals from within the opposition alliance.

Speaking on a private news channel, the PM's aide said that while dialogue remained the government's preferred course, confusion within the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) was complicating the process. He noted that PTI constituted the overwhelming majority of the alliance but had categorically rejected talks.

"Eighty-five per cent of the TTAP is made up of PTI members, who have said they will not participate in negotiations at all," Sanaullah said.

"The remaining opposition includes [TTAP chief] Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Maulana Fazlur Rehman's JUI-F," he added.

He said the government remained hopeful that clarity would emerge. "We are hopeful that either the opposition as a whole will come to the table, or at least the 15 per cent who are open to talks will."

Reiterating that dialogue should have taken place much earlier, Sanaullah expressed reservations about negotiating with PTI under the current circumstances.

"On one hand, they will sit at the table, while on the other, they will prepare condemnations," Sanaullah said.

"They will plan street agitation and a march to Islamabad. If they prepare to spread anarchy and hatred, then the law will take its course. These people (the PTI) will then run and say action is being taken against us, how can we sit at the table?"

He warned that a lack of focus in PTI's approach could restrict its political options. "Maybe once they clarify their position, they can respond to the PM's invite," he added.

"The offer was directly initiated by the PM. Their (the PTI's) response, which the media finds complicated, has been received. Once we get clarification from them, the PM will make a decision, either forming a committee or meeting with them directly."

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier this week extended an offer of dialogue to the opposition, stressing, however, that talks could only proceed on "legitimate matters".

While PTI outright rejected negotiations on the instructions of party founder Imran Khan, TTAP - of which PTI is a constituent - signalled its openness to talks with the government.

PTI's Shafi Jan

Also appearing on the programme, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's aide on information and public relations Shafiullah Jan reaffirmed PTI's refusal to engage directly with the incumbent government.

"Our strategy and stance are very clear: we will not engage in talks, because whether it be negotiations or condemnation, we want a result-oriented process," he said.

He said Imran Khan had delegated responsibility for dialogue-related matters to TTAP leadership.

"Imran Khan has granted responsibility in this area (talks) to Achakzai sahib and [MWM Senator] Allama Raja Nasir. You have seen that during the [TTAP's] two-day conference, a draft was shared, and yesterday, there was a five-hour meeting where another draft was shared."