The ruling coalition has strongly condemned the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) for expressing its desire to hold discussions solely with the military establishment, labeling this move as double standards.
This criticism follows PTI’s senior leader Shehryar Afridi’s announcement on Friday regarding the party’s decision to engage in talks exclusively with the military establishment rather than the government.
During a press briefing in Lahore, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique asserted that PTI’s inclination towards negotiating with the military leadership contradicts its claims for civil supremacy.
Rafique emphasized that PTI’s approach to negotiations reveals a pattern of behavior where the party seeks dialogue behind closed doors while championing freedom and civil supremacy in public discourse. He stressed the importance of political communication among parties and urged PTI to retract its stance.
Additionally, Rafique criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement regarding occupying Islamabad, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to democratic norms and rejecting threats and violence in politics.
Moreover, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, speaking on the Geo News show “Naya Pakistan,” questioned PTI’s political motives, accusing the party of seeking power through collaboration with the establishment rather than through democratic processes.
Similarly, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi accused PTI of inviting military interference in politics by excluding political parties from negotiations and solely engaging with military officials.
In response, PTI leader Shibli Faraz emphasized the importance of establishing a framework for negotiations and reiterated PTI’s readiness to engage with the establishment to clarify its constitutional role, rather than seeking political deals.
PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan affirmed the party’s commitment to engaging with all political parties except those who allegedly obtained their mandate illegitimately, stressing PTI’s focus on strengthening democratic principles and institutions.
