LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that the incumbent set-up will continue working even if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf walks out of negotiations.

“The system will remain in place even if the PTI abandons parleys. However, the party must know that dialogue is the only weapon politicians possess with which they can find light even in the darkest situations,” he said while speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Criticising PTI’s earlier stance of only engaging with the establishment, he said the party has now realised the importance of holding dialogue with political parties. “It has realised that dialogue is the solution to problems and that abusive language and unethical behaviour won’t serve them in any way.”

Flanked by general secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza, information secretary Shehzad Cheema, Faisal Mir, Naveed Chaudhry, Mian Ayub, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor and others were also present.

About the opposition party’s demand for release of the party founder and other leaders for the success of the dialogue, Mr Ashraf said Imran Khan’s cases are in the courts, which will decide his destiny as no one can be released from jail through an executive order.

Referring to the initial meeting held in the National Assembly speaker’s chamber between the representatives of the ruling coalition and PTI, he said the first round has been successful, with the next meeting scheduled for Jan 2.

Hoping that the country would get political and economic stability in the new year, he urged the PTI to approach the negotiating table with an open mind and not harbour expectations so high that they lead to disappointment.

Mr Ashraf highlighted that political stability is the foundation for progress and called for sitting together and listening to each other.

He credited Bilawal Bhutto and Asif Zardari for uniting people with diverse views during challenging times. He recalled that Benazir Bhutto, while drafting the Charter of Democracy, had also discussed constitutional courts.

He congratulated PPP central Punjab for arranging a special train to mark Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary on Dec 27.

The train will depart from Lahore Railway Station for Naudero at 12 noon on Dec 26 (today) as people from across Pakistan will gather at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to pay tribute to the slain PPP chairperson.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024