ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended an offer of talks to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urging the opposition party to end its long march and sit-ins and resolve political issues through dialogue.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, the prime minister said the government had agreed to hold meaningful and purposeful negotiations with the PTI leadership to find solutions to the country’s issues through mutual discussions.
Government Committed to Negotiations
Sharif said roads, underpasses and bridges were constructed to facilitate the people’s travel, expressing hope that one day the Kashmir Highway would reach Srinagar.
The prime minister regretted what he described as the return of the “dark shadows” of sit-ins and long marches. He said the government’s committee had held talks with the PTI in the Speaker’s Chamber for two days and had hoped that the discussions would produce positive results.
The premier said the government had also hoped that the talks would lead to an end to the politics of sit-ins. However, he said the PTI delegation later demanded changes to matters that had already been agreed upon.
Economic Concerns Raised
Sharif said the politics of long marches and sit-ins first affected the country’s economy. He maintained that the government had worked as a team over the past two and a half years to put the economy back on its feet.
He said the time had now come for economic growth, pointing to an increase in remittances and IT exports. The prime minister alleged that the country’s development was being deliberately disrupted, despite Pakistan gaining recognition internationally.
He said the law would take its course and that the government would not allow what he termed negative propaganda to succeed. He also urged the PTI to consider whether its current course of action would benefit or harm the country.
Dialogue Offer Reiterated
The prime minister reiterated his offer for dialogue, saying that the government would sit with the PTI if it ended its long march and sit-ins.
Sharif said protecting the lives and property of citizens was the government’s responsibility. He urged the PTI to reconsider its approach and stressed that the nation wanted Pakistan to move forward through hard work, honesty and integrity.
