LAHORE:
In an uncommon display of conciliation, senior PML-N leader and PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, urged the country’s top political figures—PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif, PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari, and PTI’s Imran Khan—to come together and guide Pakistan through its current crises.
Sana made these remarks during an event in Lahore commemorating the late politician Khawaja Muhammad Rafique, father of PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique. The event occurred amidst ongoing discussions between the ruling PML-N and PTI, with speakers recognizing the urgency of political dialogue and expressing cautious support for committee-level negotiations between the two rivals.
Sanaullah emphasized that for the dialogue to progress, the three key political leaders—Nawaz, Zardari, and Imran—must be directly involved. “Committees alone won’t make progress without consulting their leaderships. So why not include them in the process?” he said.
He also raised concerns about PTI’s demand for the PML-N to relinquish its government, citing the irony of PTI not abandoning their mandate when accused of similar election rigging. While expressing a desire for negotiations to succeed, Sanaullah questioned PTI’s sudden shift in stance, noting that just weeks ago, PTI was protesting in Islamabad, pressuring the government.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing the same event, expressed his skepticism about engaging with PTI. He accused PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, of being “eternally unfaithful” and cautioned his party colleagues not to trust him. Asif voiced concerns over PTI’s abrupt shift, saying, “What happened in the last fifteen days that PTI went from attacking the government to pushing for talks?” He also stated that while the PML-N supports dialogue, PTI’s sudden change of heart was difficult to trust.
Asif, on a lighter note, complained that he had not been consulted when PML-N formed the committee to engage PTI, indicating his opposition to the move. He stressed that the government’s commitment to dialogue was clear, as it entered negotiations from a position of strength, while PTI faced significant internal issues.
Asif also criticized Imran Khan for seeking foreign support, contrasting him with past military dictators, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, who also sought Western backing. He condemned this tendency, saying, “A person who seeks help from the very power responsible for the deaths of thousands in Palestine and the destruction of Muslim countries has no morals.”
Further bashing PTI, Asif noted that all political parties had once relied on the military establishment for support. He also criticized Pakistan’s judiciary, stating that the country had managed to survive 75 years despite its flaws. “People should be grateful we’ve survived with this kind of judiciary,” he remarked.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while emphasizing his limited role in the dialogue process, expressed appreciation for the government’s willingness to engage in talks. He also stressed that the dialogue should include a “charter of economy.”
Finally, Asif lashed out at PTI supporters in the West, accusing them of working against Pakistan’s interests while remaining silent on issues like the Gaza genocide and Kashmir occupation.
