ISLAMABAD: Commenting on the notion of holding negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif outrightly rejected PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s offer to hold talks in the backdrop of May 9 riots and violent protests staged by the PTI.
The prime minister reiterated that those who were involved in destroying public and private property on May 9 should be held accountable for their anti-state actions.
In his statement issued via Twitter, PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “Dialogue is a key to evolving democracy but it cannot be held with ‘anarchists and arsonists’ in the garb of politicians.”
Dialogue is deeply embedded in the political process, which helps democracy mature & evolve. Many political & constitutional breakthroughs occured when political leaders sat across the table to craft a consensus.
However, there is a major difference here, the anarchists &…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 30, 2023
The prime minister, in his tweet, admitted that dialogue was deeply embedded in the political process, which helps democracy mature and evolve. He said many political and constitutional breakthroughs occurred when political leaders sat across the table to craft a consensus.
“However, there is a major difference here, the anarchists and arsonists who wear the garb of politicians and attack the symbols of the state do not qualify for a dialogue,” he added.
PM Shehbaz was of the opinion that such people should rather be held to account for their militant actions, terming it a prevalent practice even in developed democracies.