Islamabad, December 16,2024: Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif dismissed the negotiation process with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a “mockery of dialogue” and claimed that no message had been received from PTI regarding talks.
Speaking to media representatives outside the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif stated, “I asked our ministers, who were part of the negotiation process, about any recent communication from PTI just five minutes ago, and they confirmed that there has been no contact so far.”
He added that PTI should inform the government if it wishes to engage in dialogue, emphasizing that the process should begin through the Speaker of the National Assembly. “PTI needs to reach out first; only then will we be in a position to respond,” he said.
Referring to PTI’s tone during and before November 26, Khawaja Asif said, “The language they are using for negotiations has not changed. If they genuinely wish to negotiate, they need to soften their tone and remain silent when necessary.”
He further emphasized that the founder of PTI must take the lead in initiating talks with the government. “Without the founder of PTI, no one else in the party holds any significance,” Khawaja Asif remarked.Bottom of Form
