PM Shehbaz again offers talks to PTI, urges end to long march

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has renewed his offer of talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, urging the opposition party to end its long march and sit-ins before negotiations can resume.

“If you end it, then we will certainly sit with you and talk,” Shehbaz said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad. 

Furthermore, he said dialogue was necessary to move the country forward and stressed that the government had already held two days of talks with the opposition.

The prime minister said the negotiations, held in the chamber of NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had raised hopes of an agreement but ultimately ended without a breakthrough. 

He accused the opposition of introducing new demands at the last moment and said the government believed continued protests could harm economic activity.

Shehbaz warned that disruptions caused by sit-ins and long marches could affect workers, engineers, factories, offices and businesses. He said Pakistan’s economy had achieved macroeconomic stability over the past 18 months and was now moving towards growth and development.

Shehbaz said the government would protect lives and property and allow the law to take its course.