The government has offered to hold negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to resolve ongoing tensions.
Federal Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, made the offer during a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, urging the PTI to come to the table for discussions.
He offered the PTI and other opposition parties to sit and sort out the issues for the best interest of people and country.
“We offer them to talk, and they say, they will stage sit-in,” Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik said. “Those involved in the politics of chaos are not well-wisher of the country, they are creating obstacles in development of the country,” the minister said.
“The PTI’s founder is now calling to become neutral,” he said.
“Let’s sit down and resolve our issues. Our priority should be the prosperity of our people, not political infighting,” Malik stated. He underscored that continuous political unrest would lead the country towards ruin.
Malik also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s top priorities, including creating employment for the poor, reducing inflation, and alleviating poverty.
He criticised former premier Imran Khan for inciting the May 9 riots and accused PTI of rejecting all government overtures for peace. “We say come, let us sit together, talk, and resolve issues,” Malik stated.
He condemned Imran’s claims of a US conspiracy against his government and blamed the PTI founder for fostering animosity between his party and the establishment, leading to the desecration of martyrs’ monuments on May 9. Malik stressed that the PTI has consistently rejected government offers, including forming the government and holding dialogue.
Accusing PTI of sowing chaos and jeopardising the future of Pakistan’s children, Malik warned of dire consequences if stability is not restored. “You can oust us if you want, but things will spiral out of control,” he cautioned.
“We offered to form the government, but you refused. Now you are causing chaos and harming your children’s future. If this continues, the country will be ruined,” He added.
Responding to a question, Musadik Malik said that FBR will be digitized, and the state-owned enterprises will be privatized. Mr Malik emphasized the necessity of unity to overcome the country’s challenges, stressing that political chaos and division must be set aside.
Malik also fired a broadside at anti-national elements for hindering Pakistan’s development, suggesting that their actions are not in the country’s best interest. “Everyone knows who did what. The notion that Pakistan can’t exist without a certain leader is misleading. It’s Pakistan that gives us our identity,” he asserted.
“Their aim seems to be to destabilize the country,” he remarked, recalling the PTI’s contradictory statements regarding the army and the United States. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing relief to the people, mentioning a significant allocation of funds aimed at supporting the underprivileged. “Our primary focus is to reduce inflation and provide employment,” Malik said, stressing the need for stability.
He warned that continuous political discord would jeopardize the country’s future and urged PTI to cooperate for the nation’s sake. “Destroying the country is not the solution. We must come together and resolve our issues for the betterment of our children and our future,” he concluded.
Rejecting the olive branch for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party chairman Barrister Gohar said on Saturday the government’s efforts were non-serious.
He said the government’s actions seemed to be apolitical and represented a lack of interest to solve a myriad of political as well as constitutional challenges. Gohar highlighted that the government should show some willingness to
hold dialogue with opposition parties as many workers of the PTI, including women, have still not come out of prison.
