Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has confirmed that off-the-record talks are taking place with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that the discussions are aimed at convincing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to distance itself from what he described as an “illegal and unconstitutional campaign.”
Speaking on a private news channel, Rana Sanaullah said that the discussions were not being held on the record but confirmed that talks were taking place.
He stated, “Demands being raised by PTI over the health of party founder Imran Khan were not part of the off-the-record discussions.”
Rana Sanaullah said that the purpose of the talks was to convince the KP government to distance itself from the campaign, while Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif had also been briefed on the situation.
He stated, “The federal government has the constitutional authority to impose governor’s rule or an emergency,” adding that the provincial government’s role was not to attack the federal government.
Rana Sanaullah said that the governor’s rule or an emergency could be imposed if the KP government remained adamant.
He also said that Chief Minister (CM) Sohail Afridi should have told PTI workers to stop when asked to do so by the police. According to Rana Sanaullah, if the chief minister gave such instructions, the matter would be resolved and there will be no need for containers or talk of a “death trap.”
Rana Sanaullah’s confirmation of the talks comes as the federal government and the KP government remain at odds over PTI’s planned protest now scheduled for October 4th.
