Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry reiterated on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains valid. He encouraged the party to engage in discussions if it is genuinely committed to negotiations.
Addressing the Senate, the minister emphasized that PTI leaders holding the party’s mandate are welcome to initiate talks. He noted that the prime minister has already extended an offer to open channels of communication. “The opposition leader can address the National Assembly or arrange a meeting with the prime minister—there is scope for conversation,” Tariq Fazal stated. He also suggested that if the opposition leader in the Senate wishes to meet, discussions could take place with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Rana Sanaullah within the Senate.
Later, Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met with Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai in Parliament House. Following the meeting, Sanaullah revealed that Achakzai had submitted a letter to the prime minister, and the ministers were consulting with him regarding the prime minister’s response.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly extended offers for dialogue to the opposition and its alliance, most recently in December 2023. However, tensions between the PML-N-led government and the PTI, founded by Imran Khan, have persisted since the 2024 elections. Initially, PTI demanded judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 protests. The disagreements have since broadened to include issues such as Imran Khan’s health and his release.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition have agreed to maintain high-level contacts and hold meetings between their leadership. A senior PPP delegation is scheduled to meet opposition leaders Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Opposition Leader’s Chamber at Parliament House.
Opposition movement spokesperson Akhwanzada Hussain Yousafzai confirmed ongoing communications between PPP and the opposition. PPP leader Naveed Qamar stated that the delegation would include Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Saleem Mandviwalla, and himself. The objective of these meetings is to strengthen and stabilize parliamentary functions and enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary committees.
