— Imran Khan offers conditional talks on snap polls
— Govt to respond to Khan’s overture after consulting allies
LAHORE: Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday offered conditional talks to coalition government, which is being considered a significant positive development amid the ongoing political crisis in the country.
However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif offered Imran Khan for a dialogue but insisted to use parliament as forum for holding any dialogue.
The PTI chairman extended dialogue offer to PDM government while addressing the PTI’s Punjab parliamentary party via a video link from his Lahore’s Zaman Park residence.
Extending an invitation to the PDM government over the possibility of early general elections, Imran Khan said that 66 percent of Pakistan would have to vote for the by-polls if assemblies were dissolved in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He went on to say that PTI has the full backing of PML-Q and CM Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi will dissolve the provincial assembly on his first call.
“Give us a date for elections or we will dissolve the KP and Punjab assemblies,” Khan said in a video address, adding that the incumbent government has no roadmap for the revival of the economy.
“Early general elections is the only way to save the country from default,” said Imran and lamented the rising inflation and unemployment rate during current govt tenure.
The former premier also slammed Federal Minister Ishaq Dar over his “poor” economic policies.
Govt to respond to Imran’s offer after consulting allies
Responding to Imran Khan’s negotiations offer, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said the federal government would respond to the offer after consultation with the allies.
Talking to a private news channel, the federal minister said Imran Khan had previously stated that he would not talk with political parties. However, he said, once again “Khan deviated from his own words”.
“Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has always believed in political dialogue to break down barriers and find solutions. When political leaders sit together, deadlocks are broken and ways are found,” he added.
Answering a question on the next elections’ possible date, the interior minister said that it was premature to make any predictions on the date of the elections until after the negotiations with allied parties.
Moreover, Imran’s announcement to dissolve the provincial assemblies was criticized by the minister, stating categorically that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would not support any unconstitutional action.
“If elections were forced upon us by dissolving assemblies or by resigning en-masse, the coalition parties would vigorously campaign against it,” he asserted.
Separately, Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif invited the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan for resolving political matters through discussion.
“Imran Khan should use the parliamentary forum for talks on political issues,” he said while talking to a private news channel.
“The PTI chairman has become unpopular in Pakistan’s politics,” he said.
“Pressurizing the government through different tactics can not resolve issues existing between two political parties,” he added while commenting on Imran’s announcement for the dissolution of KP and Punjab assemblies.
He said the government was engaged in the relief and rehabilitation works after flood devastation and going for elections at this point in time was not in government’s priority.
He said that talks with the PTI could only happen only if the conditions were not placed before the government.
“We can have a discussion with PTI for streamlining the economic sector,” he said.
To a question about dissolving assemblies, he said the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) would contest elections with full force in case of early elections in Punjab.
The minister made it clear that holding on to power was not in the coalition government’s preference but to serve the people.
He urged Imran Khan to play politics aimed at addressing the genuine problems of the people.
He advised the chairman PTI to avoid agitation against the government and work for the betterment of the country.
October 2023 is election month: Marriyum
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’ to wait for next general election till October 2023.
“October 2023” was the ultimate election month, the minister said in a tweet in reference to a news channel’s report carrying Imran Khan’s demand for talks for the snap polls’ date in a threatening tone.
