A handshake in the house: sign of civility or symbol of compromise?

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif walked across the floor of the National Assembly on Thursday to shake hands with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and others.

The move, though brief, stood out as a moment of political courtesy in an increasingly hostile and polarised environment.

While many welcomed the handshake as a sign of political maturity, the response from a section of PTI supporters on social media was markedly negative as the picture of the handshake went viral.

PTI loyalists criticised the gesture, interpreting it not as a sign of tolerance, but as an act of compromise, something they believe betrays the party’s core principles. This reaction reflects the continued influence of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains steadfast in his refusal to engage with political opponents.

Even during his time in office of the prime minister, Khan avoided such gestures of political civility. Notably, he never shook hands with then Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, despite the fact that it was the same National Assembly that had elected him the prime minister.

Khan’s confrontational approach extended beyond reasonable limits. He was criticised for skipping a critical national security briefing simply because opposition leaders were also invited. To this day, Khan bars his party from engaging in any political dialogue with the ruling coalition, including the PMLN, PPP and MQM. He insists that any dialogue must be held s