Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday reiterated the government’s offer of dialogue to the opposition, seeking unity to “strengthen” the Charter of Democracy.
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Nawaz Sharif and late Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto had signed the document in 2006, pledging to work together against dictatorship.
“Let us sit together to strengthen and take forward the Charter of Democracy,” Sanaullah said on the floor of the Senate in response to Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas. He said the government was willing to engage with the opposition to strengthen democracy, adding confrontation and deadlock benefited no one.
“We are ready to sit with you for the betterment of the country,” he continued, recalling that the parties comprising the ruling coalition had sought the same even when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in power. Regretting that then-prime minister Imran Khan had not wished to talk with politicians, he said the PTI founder wished to talk with “those who do not want to talk to it.”
Sanaullah also urged the PTI to once again “become part of Parliament” and rejoin standing committees. The party resigned from all standing committees in September 2025 on the directions of Khan. He criticized the party for a persistent “reluctance” to join the political process, but stressed the government wished to proceed in a democratic manner.
Referring to Imran Khan’s health, the adviser asserted that the government had implemented court directives regarding the PTI founder’s treatment, adding an eye specialist had been part of the medical board that examined the former premier.
Improve ties with Khan
Earlier, the opposition leader alleged that authorities had “shut down” Parliament to dissuade them from staging a sit-in seeking access to Khan by his personal physicians. “Is this not an insult to Parliament?” he questioned, as he claimed that the PTI founder only wanted a fair trial and was not seeking any concessions.
Urging both sides to undertake confidence-building measures, he advised the government to work to improve ties with Khan. He assured the government the opposition would “never become part of any conspiracy to topple the government at the dictation of any dictator, despite the legitimacy of the [incumbent] government being questioned.” However, he emphasized, the government should first address and resolve the issue of Khan’s eye ailment and treatment.
Abbas also reiterated his demand for the formation of a parliamentary committee to meet the incarcerated former prime minister.
Separately, PTI leaders and lawmakers staged a sit-in outside the Supreme Court, demanding cases involving Imran Khan be fixed for early hearing.