Govt reiterates talks offer as PML-N, opposition leaders meet in Parliament

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday reiterated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for talks with the opposition remained on the table, urging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to engage in dialogue if it was serious about negotiations.

Speaking on the Senate floor, the federal minister said the PTI was welcome to initiate talks if its leadership was serious and represented the party’s mandate.

He said the prime minister had already extended an invitation for dialogue and that the opposition leadership could meet him to discuss political issues.

“The opposition leader can speak in the National Assembly or meet the prime minister — a meeting and conversation can happen,” Tariq Fazal said.

He added that if the opposition leader in the Senate was willing to meet, he could hold discussions with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Rana Sanaullah.

Later in the day, Rana Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai in Achakzai’s chamber at Parliament House.

Speaking to Geo News after the meeting, Sanaullah said Achakzai had written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the ministers had met him to consult on the prime minister’s response.

The PML-N leader said the government had repeatedly offered dialogue to the opposition and its alliance, most recently in December last year.

The PML-N-led government and the PTI have remained at odds since the 2024 general elections.

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The PTI had initially demanded judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 protests. The political dispute has since expanded to other issues, including Imran Khan’s health and demand for his release.

PPP agrees to talks with opposition

Separately, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition agreed to establish high-level contacts and hold meetings between their respective leaderships.

A senior PPP delegation is scheduled to meet opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas at the Opposition Leader’s Chamber in Parliament House on Tuesday at 11am.

Opposition movement spokesperson Akhwanzada Hussain Yousafzai confirmed the planned contact between the PPP and opposition leadership.

PPP leader Naveed Qamar said the delegation would comprise Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Saleem Mandviwalla and himself.

He said the meeting would focus on strengthening and stabilising Parliament and further reinforcing parliamentary committees.