Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik had censured the PTI for turning down the government s offers for dialogue. Malik had offered talks to the Imran Khan-founded party, saying that the government has offered dialogue while the opposition talks about "destruction, sit-ins, and confrontational politics".
He said that the government is taking steps to eliminate terrorism, while the opposition speaks against these measures.
He accused the PTI of running "malicious campaign" against state institutions and resorting to politics of agitations without offering solutions to current problems.
Also read: Imran directs PTI leaders to initiate talks with political parties
He said that the objective of PTI is to destroy the country, saying that the military installations and memorials of the country’s heroes were targeted and attacked by PTI workers on May 9, 2023.
He claimed that the incarcerated PTI founder had admitted to the inciting violent protests that took place on May 9 last year.
He questioned why the opposition party did not form its government in the Centre with the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) despite winning most seats in the February 8 elections.
He added, "If you want to remove us then do it. You don t want to resolve issues but to further complicate them. You should do talks instead of destroying everything.”
Also read: Imran says will initiate dialogues only with ‘real powers’
He also highlighted the incumbent government’s performance. He said that economic policies have started showing results under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, resulting in a drop in food inflation from 48% to 2%. He added that overall inflation in the country had also decreased to 12% from 38% due to the government’s measures.
In his reaction to Musadik government’s offer, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the behaviour of the ruling party was not political. During a private TV programme, the PTI leader questioned, “Does anyone adopt such a style of conversation on negotiations?”
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz should review its way and behavior, he added. On the one hand, he noted, leaders and activists of the largest political party are being arrested, trampling the concept of privacy and. And on the other hand, he maintained, negotiations are being offered.
“We cannot even protest peacefully. How can we accept such a negotiation offer,” he justified his party’s reaction to the talks offer.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had declined Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation to hold talks, saying that the latter has nothing to negotiate.
On June 26, the prime minister once again invited PTI to hold dialogue to solve the national problems and also to address the PTI founder’s grievance in prison.
During the National Assembly session, the prime minister while addressing the PTI representatives said, “If your party’s founder (Imran Khan) has any problem or complaint in jail, then come, sit and talk.
Talking to media persons in Adiala Jail on Tuesday, the PTI founder said that five months had passed since the election but still he did not know who won and who lost in the elections while the present government is running on lies.
