Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, emphasized that formal negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cannot proceed unless the party agrees to postpone its planned long march to Islamabad. Meanwhile, he confirmed that informal communications between the government and PTI continue.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sanaullah revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reached out to PTI leadership on three occasions but had yet to receive a favorable response. He indicated that the prime minister remains open to dialogue if PTI first defers its protest march.
In a significant development, Sanaullah warned against any disruption in Islamabad, expressing concerns that the PTI’s planned demonstration might escalate into violence. While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, he stressed that the government would not tolerate any attacks on the state or the capital city. He suggested that PTI could hold protests elsewhere but must avoid confrontations in Islamabad.
To prevent a recurrence of the unrest witnessed during the PTI protest on November 26, the government has implemented precautionary measures. Containers have been strategically placed along key roads in Islamabad to enhance security, though Sanaullah assured that these routes remain accessible. He underscored the importance of these steps by highlighting the presence of international diplomats in the capital and the potential impact on Pakistan’s global image.
Addressing allegations of a government plan to eliminate PTI, Sanaullah firmly rejected such claims. He clarified that the government is not pressured by PTI’s protests and that its “one-time solution” policy aims solely to stop repeated disruptions, not to end any political party’s existence.
These remarks followed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent statements accusing PTI of preparing to march on Islamabad. Naqvi reiterated the government’s intention to implement a permanent resolution to ongoing protests and warned that the capital would not be allowed to be occupied for prolonged periods, disrupting national activities. The government’s approach, he said, would be decisive and final.
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