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Rana Sanaullah Invites PTI to Dialogue Amid Calls for Justice Over D-Chowk Violence
PML-N's Rana Sanaullah extends an olive branch to PTI, urging official dialogue in the National Assembly. PTI demands justice for lives lost in D-Chowk clashes.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-17
Rana Sanaullah Invites PTI to Dialogue Amid Calls for Justice Over D-Chowk Violence

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah called for political dialogue with the PTI during his address to the National Assembly on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for unity and constructive talks to resolve escalating political tensions. His appeal comes in light of the PTI’s violent protests following its November 24 “final call” for demonstrations against the government.

The PTI, under the leadership of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has faced a tense relationship with both the government and the establishment. Its nationwide protests demanding the restoration of its electoral mandate, the release of detained members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, have often devolved into violence.

The November 24 protest, which escalated into a clash between PTI supporters and security forces, claimed at least six lives, including three Rangers officials and a policeman. The unrest led to PTI’s top leadership retreating from the Red Zone in Islamabad.

Sanaullah Calls for Constructive Dialogue

In his National Assembly speech, Sanaullah recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier efforts to initiate dialogue with the opposition. He lamented the lack of a positive response from the PTI, emphasizing that the parliamentary system requires cooperation between the government and the opposition to function effectively.

He urged the PTI to formally declare its intentions for dialogue. Referring to PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat’s statement on forming a committee for negotiations, Sanaullah encouraged the party to move beyond press releases and TV appearances and make an official approach for talks.

“The office of the House speaker is a neutral venue, as much yours as it is ours,” he said, expressing hope that an official dialogue could yield constructive results.

Acknowledging Losses on Both Sides

Sanaullah also reflected on the casualties from the November 24 clashes, expressing regret over the loss of lives on both sides. He reiterated the government’s openness to dialogue, even in the face of hostility and accusations from PTI.

PTI’s Stance on Justice and Negotiations

Responding to Sanaullah, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan appreciated the acknowledgment of the lives lost, stressing the party’s demand for justice for those killed during the protests.

“We only want justice for the blood spilled at D-Chowk,” he said, invoking Article 9 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and liberty.

Ali Muhammad shared that he had personally visited the families of those who died during the clashes and invited Information Minister Attaullah Tarar to join him in meeting the bereaved.

On the subject of negotiations, he stated: “Imran Khan will also get released. We won’t beg for negotiations. If you can run the country while keeping him in jail, you can try and do that.”

Diverging Narratives on Casualties

The PTI claims that 12 of its supporters were killed during the November 24 protests, while distancing itself from unverified casualty figures circulating on social media, which ranged from 20 to 300. Initially, the government denied any casualties but later acknowledged fatalities.

Call for Unity Amid Political Turmoil

The heated debate in the National Assembly reflects the political impasse gripping Pakistan. With both sides entrenched in their positions, Sanaullah’s invitation to dialogue offers a potential path forward. Whether the PTI accepts this overture and engages constructively remains to be seen, but the need for resolution has never been more urgent.

 

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