Islamabad (Web Desk): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted a committee comprising with all allies to effectively respond to Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Charter of Demands (CoD).
Addressing a news conference alongside spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee and Parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Senate Irfan Siddiqui, the SAPM addressed the ongoing discussions between the government and the opposition party, PTI, regarding its CoD.
Sanaullah began by pointing out that PTI had made their demands public before formally submitting them to the government, calling out the party for using the media as a platform to further their agenda.
He assured the public that the government was committed to engaging in dialogue and would offer a thorough response to PTI’s demands, emphasizing that such discussions were vital in a democracy and constitutional framework.
Rana Sanaullah said that the government’s negotiation team had already met with the opposition and was optimistic about holding future meetings to continue the process of resolution.
He also explained that the government’s response would address PTI’s demands, but clarified that the initial two demands related to election rigging and political cases against PTI supporters would not be entertained.
The SAPM noted that the opposition had already softened its stance on the election rigging issue, withdrawing their original claims.
Referring to PTI’s allegations regarding political cases against their members, he stated that PTI had failed to provide any specific details about the alleged victims, such as names, arrest records, or FIR numbers.
Sanaullah also pointed out that the charges against PTI workers were related to anti-terrorism laws, as they were involved in violent acts, including attacks on national institutions and efforts to tarnish the country’s reputation on the global stage.
He dismissed PTI’s claims of missing or detained workers, suggesting that the party was spreading misleading information through social media to rally their supporters without providing any concrete evidence.
The SAPM questioned why the families of the alleged missing individuals were not speaking out, and suggested that the opposition's primary goal was to create division and deflect attention from important issues.
Sanaullah argued that PTI was using false narratives to stay in the public’s eye, rather than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation.
He also addressed PTI’s call for the formation of a judicial commission, stating unequivocally that such a commission could not be established under the current legal framework, particularly the 2017 Act.
When asked about the ongoing corruption case involving Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, Sanaullah confirmed that the court’s verdict had been delayed for a third time, but assured that it would be delivered on January 17.
The SAPM reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dialogue but criticized PTI for focusing on fabricated issues and attempting to manipulate public opinion for political advantage.