Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for refusing to initiate dialogue with its political rivals, as the opposition party’s ally Mahmood Khan Achakzai said he was ready to talk with the establishment for its “safe exit” from politics.
“[PTI spokesperson] Raoof Hasan is begging for an NRO from those who they believe wield real powers,” said Asif on the floor of the National Assembly over Hasan’s interview to Voice of America (VOA). In the interview, the PTI leader had “hoped and prayed” for swift resolution to the deadlock between the military and his party. “In the interest of the state, it is imperative that PTI and the establishment engage in dialogue,” he had said, adding the party had taken all possible steps to achieve this.
Noting that PTI founder Imran Khan had repeatedly asserted he was only willing to negotiate with the establishment, the defense minister said the government had no issue with this. However, he asked Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai—tasked by Khan to negotiate with political parties on the PTI’s behalf—if he were ready to negotiate with the establishment. “They [PTI] say Achakzai heads the opposition alliance [Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayn-e-Pakistan] and he will negotiate,” he said and urged them to decide whether they wished to engage with political forces or the military.
Reminding the PTI that their old benefactor—a reference to Faiz Hameed—was no longer in power, he maintained that the opposition party would be unable to achieve its aims until it had apologized for the May 9 riots.
Responding to Asif’s speech, Ackakzai said he was ready to engage with the establishment for the supremacy of the Constitution. “I will hold negotiations. I will talk to every institution. I will also talk to the establishment, but …. we do not want to talk to them and ask them to provide us guidance. We are to provide them honorable retreat,” he claimed. “We will tell the establishment that you are our establishment. You are dear to us. You are our Army, our institution. Please be kind with us and [its] enough. Sit with us,” he added.
“The supremacy of the Constitution is the only solution and this whole house has consensus on this,” he said, adding PMLN President Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari also agreed with this. He said it was time for all stakeholders, including the Army, to sit together, admit their past mistakes and move forward. He said that, on one hand, Nawaz Sharif stressed the need for a political dialogue, while on the other “you people start stabbing each other in the back.”
Also on Monday, the National Assembly passed four bills—Apostille Bills 2024; Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024; Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Bill, 2024; Privatization Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024—amid protests by the opposition.