Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah stated on Saturday that if the leaders of Pakistan’s three major political parties — PTI, PML-N, and PPP — came together for talks, the ongoing crisis in the country could be resolved within 70 days, a crisis that has persisted for 70 years.
Since the imprisonment of Imran Khan last year, PTI’s relationship with the government and the establishment has soured, with protests escalating into violence amid state repression. Following this, Imran Khan formed a five-member committee to hold discussions with anyone, signaling a shift in PTI’s stance in parliament. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also created a committee with members of the ruling coalition.
The first meeting between the government and PTI committees took place on Monday, marking the beginning of much-anticipated negotiations aimed at easing political tensions.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, announced that PTI would formally give the government time until January 31 to conclude the ongoing talks. Prior to that, Sanaullah had stated that the government would accommodate such a request.
While speaking at an event in Lahore, PML-N’s Sanaullah emphasized that if former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PTI founder Imran Khan, and President Asif Ali Zardari were included in the negotiation process, with a shared vision similar to Nawaz’s approach last year, the crisis in Pakistan could be resolved in 70 days.
He suggested that all three political figures should be involved in the talks, stressing that politicians must first acknowledge the mistakes made by all parties involved. He pointed out that important political documents, such as the 1973 Constitution and the Charter of Democracy, are key to moving forward.
Sanaullah remarked that in the Charter of Democracy, both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif admitted their mistakes before advancing the conversation. He also commented on PTI’s claim that its mandate was stolen, questioning why they didn’t raise the issue when they had the mandate.
He reiterated that his party had always advocated for negotiations to resolve political issues, referencing Nawaz Sharif’s speech last October, which called for such talks. He emphasized that negotiations are the only viable path forward.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing the same event, questioned PTI’s sudden willingness to engage in talks after years of refusing to negotiate with PML-N. He remarked on PTI’s earlier stance that they would only negotiate with those in power and questioned why they had changed their approach in the last few weeks. While Asif expressed support for negotiations, he cautioned the government to be careful in dealing with Imran Khan, whom he accused of using people for his own agenda.
Asif also suggested that all power centers in the country, including the army, bureaucracy, judiciary, media, and big business, should be part of the discussions to resolve Pakistan’s problems.
In a separate press conference, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz reiterated that Imran Khan was not seeking political space for himself in the negotiations. He clarified that Imran Khan is fighting for the people of Pakistan and demanded the release of PTI workers imprisoned during the protests. Faraz emphasized that the government is responsible for the success or failure of the negotiations.
