Ali says ready to hold dialogue but ‘won’t beg
The government has ruled out talks with the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with the “sword of civil disobedience hanging on its neck” as the former ruling party refused to “beg for negotiations”.
“For the first time, a pleasant breeze came from the opposition […] but talks cannot be held at gunpoint,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Speaking on the NA floor, the defence minister lambasted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for prioritising marches on Islamabad instead of the Kurram clashes. “It is the provincial government’s duty to establish law and peace in their respective provinces.”
“Political responsibilities come after constitutional ones,” he said, adding that the members of national or “It is the provincial government’s duty to establish law and peace in their respective provinces.”
“Political responsibilities come after constitutional ones,” he said, adding that the members of national or Imran Khan’s party yet, emphasising that if they all belong to this House, then matters must be resolved in this building. He also termed the PTI’s formation of a negotiation committee “meaningless”, saying that nothing matters when seriousness is lacking.
Referring to the recently-held Islamabad protest, he slammed the PTI’s “double standards” for not condemning the martyrdom of Rangers and police personnel. “Who martyred the security officials […] there should be no selection in condemnation.”
Recalling his days during imprisonment, Asif said that the authorities “took away” his blanket from him in the prison at 6°C. He said he spent twelve nights at the prayer rug, but “did not beg”. “Politicians should be tolerant,” he said, adding that complaining destroys self-respect.
The minister reiterated that the repeated attacks on Islamabad and calls for civil disobedience will not pave the way for negotiations. “The nation is suffering losses in our political war,” he said, stressing the need for “a change that would create a good environment”.
Meanwhile, the PTI lawmakers in the lower house expressed willingness to hold talks with the government but maintained they would “not beg”. with politician Sher Afzal Marwat saying that terms of references should be chalked out for the negotiations.
Speaking on the NA floor, Marwat said that no negotiations would be successful unless “political forces discuss ToRs”, adding that later they should discuss the terms and references with the establishment. “Is it not possible to form a committee to resolve the issues and chalk out ToRs,” he asked.
PTI lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan, for his part, lambasted the government for “firing bullets” at the protesters in Islamabad, saying that politicians do not fire bullets, but talk.
