LAHORE: Federal Petroleum Minister Dr Musadik Malik has declared the negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) a positive step towards right direction but insisted on distinction between criminal cases and the political matters.

Talking to media persons after participating at an international pharmacy conference and exhibition at a local hotel here on Sunday, he called for dialogue to address national issues, stressing the need for constructive discussions.

“If we want to move forward, let’s have a dialogue and we are ready for this”, he said but made it clear that the agenda of dialogue would not include criminal cases involving PTI’s leadership.

About the allegations against the PTI founder, he said that the cases against Imran Khan were of criminal nature.

The £190 million matter is beyond politics, he said, adding that according to the prosecution, the state resources were misappropriated, and 400-kanal land was taken in the guise of a trust.

The federal minister further clarified that criminal cases lodged in the wake of May 9 attacks on the corps commander’s house, the military tower, or martyrs’monuments have nothing to do with dialogue as the trial for these offences were based on evidence.

The minister accused the PTI of lobbying against Pakistan’s interests abroad and damaging its reputation internationally.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 21st International Pharmacy Conference and Exhibition, Musadik Malik said that the pharmacy sector is of immense importance.

Senior pharmacists Khalid Saeed Bukhari and Ayaz Ali Khan declared the pharmacists a backbone of the health sector saying that only qualified pharmacists should run the pharmacies across the country.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024