Nawaz wants unconditional dialogue with all parties including PTI: Rana Sana

ISLAMABAD: Days after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) rebuffed reports of receiving directions from its supremo to initiate talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other parties, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that “Nawaz Sharif wants unconditional dialogue with all parties, including PTI.”

“We have also maintained the same stance before the PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly,” said Sanaullah while talking to a local TV channel on Wednesday.

The statement came two days after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif categorically denied receiving any specific directions from Nawaz to initiate talks with the major opposition party. Asif, in his statement, said that unless the PTI apologised for the May 9 violent incidents, there would be no room for negotiations with them.

In Wednesday’s interaction, Sanaullah said: “PM Shehbaz shook hands with everyone two weeks ago and offered unconditional talks.” He recalled that Nawaz had urged all stakeholders to sit together to pull the country out of crisis and the former premier also reiterated his stance in PMLN’s top leadership huddle earlier this week. The PM’s aide also urged the PTI to change its “stubborn attitude” to make the talks fruitful.

Commenting on Achakzai’s offer for talks, he said the party also had a conversation with the PkMAP chief and that the leader also wanted to move forward. The PMLN believes in democracy and dialogue to settle down the political issues, he added.