Islamabad (National Times) PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui has indicated that his party would no longer \u201crepeatedly call out\u201d to the PTI for talks, while reiterating that the latter needed to approach it with seriousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government \u2014 already tense since party founder Imran Khan\u2019s ouster in 2022 \u2014 have grown even more strained over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the PML-N has repeatedly offered a dialogue to the PTI, the latter\u2019s founder Imran Khan has cited certain conditions, including the return of its \u201cstolen mandate\u201d, and has instead preferred holding talks with the military establishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, senior PTI leader MNA Ali Muhammad Khan indicated that his party might be open to negotiating with the PML-N, PPP, and MQM-P to resolve ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition, provided PTI\u2019s demands are met.
Speaking on Dawn News\u2019 programme \u2018Doosra Rukh\u2019, which was aired on Friday night, Siddiqui said: \u201cWe repeatedly said \u2018fine, you have entered the House (Parliament) \u2014 in whatever way you have \u2014 then at least sit together on that level and try to solve your matters\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[But] they do not want to talk, and we have also thought that now we will not repeatedly call out to them from our rooftops that \u2018come, talk to us\u2019,\u201d the politician added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he went on to say that the PML-N and its coalition partners would \u201cconsider whether to open the door or not\u201d for talks with the PTI if the latter \u201capproached it seriously\u201d.
The senator stressed that holding a dialogue depended on when the PTI would have realised that \u201cwe shouldn\u2019t have talks with the army but with politicians\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that perhaps Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and leader of the opposition alliance, would be \u201csuccessful in making [the PTI] understand\u201d that a dialogue among political parties was needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe point is that a party does not want to hold talks with you, and this is that party which was clearly seen behind the May 9 [incidents],\u201d Senator Siddiqui said, referring to the violent protests last year following Imran\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the government\u2019s decision to seek a ban on the PTI, Senator Siddiqui asserted that the PTI\u2019s role \u201ccannot be the role of a patriotic [political] party\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis party\u2019s role can not be called pro-Pakistani in any manner,\u201d the PML-N lawmaker said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siddiqui went on to list the PTI\u2019s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and protests it has organised outside the Fund\u2019s office, the May 9 riots as well as multiple resolutions passed in the US Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll these elements and ingredients are such on the basis of which a decision can be made. When the National Awami Party was banned, they hadn\u2019t taken such actions. They hadn\u2019t carried out such attacks like the PTI has done,\u201d the senator said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will also see what Faiz Hameed sahib discloses. After that, we will consider,\u201d he said, stating that it was yet to be seen how and when the decision to ban would be implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator Siddiqui further said there was a possibility of the probe about Gen Faiz\u2019s post-retirement activities \u201cconnecting to May 9 [incidents], as is being speculated\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there was anything major carried out after quitting the uniform (retiring) [\u2026] \u2014 whether you may call it a huge incident, an accident, an action, a mutiny or a conspiracy \u2014 that is May 9. [\u2026] So if any role of [Gen Faiz] behind that is revealed, then accountability should be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that by \u201cmagnifying, spreading or connecting the matter far away, perhaps the army\u2019s efforts to focus and review the issue of the role that the respected general played while in his uniform and in the Top City case\u201d, adding that \u201cthere may be a few other matters as well\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSecondly, what did he do after retirement in his post-uniform era [\u2026] so let the army decide and investigate. We do not want to create some complication in this and spread the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Imran led, Gen Faiz enabled him\u2019: info minister Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar alleged that Gen Faiz and his cohorts enabled Imran in damaging national security, calling the former premier the \u201cleader of the collusion\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo one can be allowed to collude and spread destruction,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the court martial proceedings against Gen Faiz, Tarar said that the development was a positive one and the government stood with the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-accountability needs to take place within other institutions as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho brought terrorism back to Pakistan?\u201d Tarar said, referring to the PTI government\u2019s plan to relocate thousands of fighters from the outlawed Tehreek-i-Tali\u00adban Pakistan (TTP) to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDidn\u2019t the PTI founder conspire with them and say that the Taliban should be brought back?\u201d the info minister asked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Islamabad (National Times) PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui has indicated that his party would no longer \u201crepeatedly call out\u201d to the PTI for talks, while reiterating that the latter needed to approach it with seriousness. Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government \u2014 already tense since party founder Imran Khan\u2019s ouster in 2022 \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n
Gen Faiz probe a \u2018national\u2019 matter: Siddiqui
<\/strong>On the arrest and court martial proceedings against former intelligence chief Lt Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed, Siddiqui said the action was a \u201chuge one\u201d and \u201cnothing ordinary\u201d. He said the matter was a \u201cnational\u201d one rather than the military\u2019s own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Meanwhile, information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Gen Faiz and other former military officers, were arrested only because Imran engaged in the politics of incitement, division and hate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n