Islamabad: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the government is fully committed to holding talks with the opposition and believes that dialogue is essential to address Pakistan’s economic and political challenges.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his address in the National Assembly, emphasized the need for all political stakeholders to sit together and discuss solutions to the country’s pressing issues, including the economy.
He revealed that after delivering his speech, the Prime Minister personally approached the Opposition Leader’s seat twice in the assembly and once again extended an invitation for dialogue.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry further stated that he and Rana Sanaullah had also met opposition leaders and conveyed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is ready to meet the Opposition Leader anywhere within the Parliament House for meaningful discussions.
According to the minister, two major factors have prevented negotiations from moving forward so far. The first is internal divisions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while the second is the party’s social media operations.
He claimed that following meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan, negative campaigns against state institutions would emerge on social media, accompanied by anti-state narratives. As a result, he said, those meetings were eventually discontinued.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry expressed hope that all political parties would prioritize national interests and engage in constructive dialogue to help resolve the country’s challenges through consensus.