- Sanaullah claims PTI protest movement will be “a failed attempt”.
- PM’s aide says PTI’s leadership doesn’t believe in political dialogue.
- Politician says PM Shehbaz’s offer to hold talks still valid.
FAISALABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that the movement announced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won’t be fruitful, as the party is in no position to lead any such efforts at the moment.
He insisted that the Imran Khan-founded party accept Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of a meeting for negotiations and sit with the government to make amendments to the election laws.
Addressing journalists after offering Eid ul Adha prayers in Faisalabad, the SAPM reiterated that the opposition must talk to the government to solve the issue of the country’s people, as economic prosperity is the problem of every individual.
Commenting on PTI’s latest call for a protest movement while speaking during Geo News programme, Geo Pakistan, the politician stated that the government will not allow the rival party to do something like May 9, 2023, or November 26, 2024 — the recent protest marches led by the former ruling party.
Incarcerated PTI founder Khan, last month, said he will lead his party’s upcoming protest movement against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government at the Centre, from the prison.
Quoting Khan, Senator Ali Zafar said that the PTI founder directed his party leadership to make the upcoming nationwide protest movement against the federal government “decisive”.
However, Sanaullah ruled out the success of any such movement in the current political environment of the country.
“As per my belief as a political figure, PTI cannot afford to launch a similar movement like in the past in the light of the position of government, establishment and those who PTI has always tried to incite hate against. Even if they attempt to do something like that, it will be a failed attempt,” maintained Sanaullah when commenting on the prospect of a protest movement.
The minister had earlier insisted that the opposition should first make an economic pact, after which other issues, including politics, will also be discussed, insisting that a national consensus be held on the problems facing Pakistan.
Sanaullah, during his appearance in Geo Pakistan, added that the government didn’t just make the offers to the PTI but also led efforts to bring the party to the table and hold a dialogue last year, with him alongside National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PML-N politician Khawaja Saad Rafique on the forefront.
“But PTI’s leadership, especially Imran Khan doesn’t believe in political negotiations,” he added.
It may be noted that the government and PTI had agreed to hold consultations over the differences last year before the latter abruptly quit the dialogue process over the non-formation of judicial commissions to probe the May 9, 2023 and November 26 events, after attending three meetings with the government’s delegation.
Sanaullah maintained that he and his leadership considers PTI a political party, which is why PM Shehbaz had twice invited their leadership to come and hold talks, but the party did not respond to it in any way.
The premier, last month, had called on PTI to join a national dialogue during his speech on the floor of the National Assembly, while a similar offer had been made in the past few months as well.
PM’s aide said that PM’s offer was still valid and the NA speaker had also showed willingness to mediate between the two sides.
Meanwhile, as PTI faces challenges to maintain harmony within party, Khan has declared himself as its patron-in-chief, while Barrister Gohar Ali Khan will continue to serve as party chairman.
The move came after the party’s announcement of a nationwide protest drive to topple the PML-N-led coalition government and reclaim what it claimed was its “stolen mandate”. PTI is yet to announce the date for its proposed protest.
