Khawaja Asif refutes claims about holding talks with PTI
Khawaja Asif, Federal Defense Minister, denied media reports that said Nawaz Sharif had ordered the PML-N to undertake negotiations with all political parties, including the PTI, in order to save the nation from the current crisis.
Asif stated “Nawaz Sharif did not even discuss politics at the meeting, let alone offer an olive branch to the opposition party.”
He further said neither the PML-N president give such directives nor any such conversation occurred during the meeting.
Asif said the meeting had two major topics of concentration; holding local bodies elections in Punjab and bringing down electricity prices.”
Furthermore, he stated there would be no place for advancement in the negotiations with the PTI unless they extended an apology for the May 9 riots saying “There should be 200% accountability for the May 9 incidents.”
He said the opposition was not being sincere when it expressed a willingness for discussions, either directly or indirectly.
The minister even pointed that Imran Khan has a self-centred and opportunistic mentality saying that even PTI members did not trust him.
Recalling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeated offers to conduct discussions with the PTI, Khwaja Asif said that the PM had even suggested PTI to sign an economic charter. However, he disclosed that neither the PTI founder nor any of his ministers replied to the suggestion.
Highlighting ex-PM Imran Khan strong friendship with former army head General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, Khawaja Asif said, “The PTI founder during his tenure sat turning his back towards the opposition with arrogance.”
Another PML-N leader, Irfan Siddiqui agreed with Asif’s remarks, claiming that Nawaz Sharif never extended PTI an invitation for discussions stating, “Nawaz Sharif has not approached anyone,” but the PML-N president did want to have a discussion with its bitter political opponent. He concluded his remarks saying PTI leaders’ most claims are typically untrue.
