Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the head of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), has called for a national dialogue among all political parties to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Achakzai urged all political forces to come to the negotiating table for the “sake of the country,” stating, “The solution to all problems still lies in dialogue.”
The seasoned politician emphasized that everyone should apologize for past mistakes. When asked about PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters, Achakzai said, “What’s the harm if the PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters meet him in Adiala Jail?” Khan’s sisters have recently criticized jail authorities for not allowing them to meet their brother despite a court order. The PTI founder has been imprisoned in various cases, from corruption to terrorism, since he was removed from power in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote.
During his media talk, Achakzai also suggested that PTI lawmakers should protest in the assemblies until a meeting is arranged between Khan and his sisters. “There should be no politics of revenge under any circumstances,” he warned. His comments come as the PTI launched a protest movement to mark the second anniversary of Khan’s incarceration, with activists and supporters taking to the streets across the country to demand the former prime minister’s release.
According to PTI sources, at least 300 of its activists were detained by police in Lahore during overnight raids. AFP, quoting Zulfikar Bukhari, reported that at least seven members of the Punjab Assembly were also arrested in Lahore, though they were released by evening. A statement from the Punjab Police confirmed the release of Deputy Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Moeen Riaz Qureshi and several other MPs. The PTI central media cell also confirmed the release of Rehana Dar, who was detained outside Aiwan-e-Adal.
In a message posted on the party’s X account, the former prime minister urged his supporters to “come out and hold peaceful protests until a true democracy is restored in the country.” The former cricket star was elected prime minister in 2018 but was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence motion in parliament.
‘Meaningful Dialogue’ Earlier in June, PTI senior leader Senator Shibli Faraz urged the PML-N-led coalition government to move beyond mere statements and engage in a meaningful dialogue to ease political tensions. His remarks were in response to a renewed offer of dialogue from the government. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah had said that the government was open and willing to hold talks on all political matters with the opposition. Speaking to journalists on June 26, Sanaullah stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had extended a clear and open invitation to the opposition, even offering to meet in the Speaker’s chamber if a direct meeting was not comfortable for them. The PML-N leader expressed the view that democracy progresses through dialogue.
In response to the PM’s offer, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate said that if the government was serious, it must go beyond statements and engage in sincere dialogue. He added that dialogue should not be used to create a “false” sense of normalcy. Faraz specified that talks should involve the PTI chairman and secretary general directly, and should not be limited to political statements or optics. He stressed that there must be sincerity in the negotiations and that the government’s seriousness should be clearly visible. It is noteworthy that the premier has publicly and repeatedly invited PTI for dialogue to reduce political tensions and foster democratic consensus. Most recently, during an escalation of hostilities with India, Shehbaz reached out to Barrister Gohar to take him and the PTI into confidence alongside other national leaders.
