Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has again invited the PTI to talks, saying dialogue can resume if the party ends its long march and sit-ins.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday again offered talks to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying the government would engage with the party if it ended its long march and sit-ins.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister said his government had made significant efforts over the past two and a half years to put the economy back on its feet through teamwork and sustained efforts. He said macroeconomic stability had been achieved with difficulty and that the national objective was to make Pakistan a stronger and more prosperous country.
Shehbaz said the government had attempted to make negotiations with the PTI successful, but those efforts had not produced the desired outcome.
The prime minister expressed concern that renewed protests and sit-ins could affect economic activity at a time when the government was pursuing development and economic growth.
“Marches and protest politics will first target your economy,” Shehbaz said, warning that disruptions could affect exports, imports and the manufacturing sector. He questioned the impact of protests on workers and engineers who may be unable to reach factories, workplaces and offices on time.
According to the prime minister, the country had worked hard to restore macroeconomic stability and was now seeking to move toward economic growth. He urged the PTI to reconsider its protest plans and end the sit-ins and long march.
“Will bringing the wheel of development to a halt again not harm the country?” he asked, while also questioning whether the protests could damage Pakistan’s international reputation.
Shehbaz called on the PTI to “come to its senses” and end the long march and sit-ins. He reiterated that the government was willing to sit with the opposition and hold talks if the protests were called off.
The renewed offer comes amid heightened political tensions following the PTI’s long march toward Islamabad, which began from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Oct. 4 after talks between the government and the opposition failed to resolve key differences.
The government has maintained that political dialogue remains an avenue for resolving differences, while the PTI has continued its protest movement and demands concerning the release of party founder Imran Khan.
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