PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq in the National Assembly. Photo: Screengrab
SUGAR:
With Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s talk offer appearing to have run aground, ruling party leaders on Saturday again demanded clarity from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleging that the opposition party was flashing mixed signals.
The PML-N leaders said the former ruling party had taken adversarial positions on talks with the government and warned that political uncertainty would continue unless dialogue replaced confrontation.
The comments were made by Rana Sanaullah, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while addressing the media in Sukkur.
“On one hand they (PTI) are saying that we should hold dialogue and on the other hand Aleema Khan is saying that anyone who is in favor of dialogue cannot be part of the party,” Chaudhry said.
Sanaullah said PML-N, as a political party, believed in dialogue, adding that “both PML-N and PPP have always tried to ensure that all political parties sit down and resolve their political issues through dialogue.”
But “PTI founder has held this position since 2011 and then from 2018-2022 and now in 2025 […] he does not believe in political dialogue”.
He further claimed that PTI founder Imran Khan had done so through his “meetings, messages and tweets”.
He said Imran “forged the political leadership” and added that the ban on meetings was “in accordance with the law”.
“In terms of dialogue, we’ve always been ready; we still are. If they want to talk, that’s fine; if they don’t, that’s their decision,” he said.
He said Imran’s trials were conducted in prison rather than in court because his “protection remained a top priority for the government”.
Speaking separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq recalled that the prime minister had “repeatedly said that we are ready for dialogue”.
“In my capacity as an NA speaker, I have also said that the speaker’s office is available when you want to come and speak, but it looks like they will have to make a decision”.
He expressed hope that “when PTI agrees […] a way forward can be found”.
“They are telling the media that they want to speak; there is an office available, they should come and we will welcome them,” he added.
