Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has brushed aside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) call for a protest movement, saying the party lacks the political strength to launch any meaningful campaign in the current climate.
Speaking to reporters after offering Eid ul Adha prayers in Faisalabad on Saturday, Sanaullah stressed that PTI should accept Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s repeated invitation for talks instead of taking to the streets. He highlighted the need for national political dialogue, calling it the only practical way forward for the country’s economic and political stability.
“The government wants to amend the election laws through consensus. PTI must come to the table,” Sanaullah said, pointing out that economic prosperity is a shared concern for all Pakistanis and shouldn’t be compromised for political point scoring.
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Referring to recent statements by PTI founder Imran Khan, who vowed to lead a nationwide protest movement from prison, Sanaullah expressed confidence that the plan would fizzle out just like past attempts. “PTI is in no position to launch a movement like they did on May 9 or November 26. Even if they try, it won’t succeed,” he said during an appearance on Geo News’ Geo Pakistan.
While Senator Ali Zafar quoted Khan as calling for a “decisive” protest drive against the federal government, Sanaullah dismissed the notion, arguing that the national political dialogue must take precedence over confrontational politics.
He recalled that the government had made serious efforts last year to engage PTI in talks, with him, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Khawaja Saad Rafique leading the initiative. Despite three meetings, PTI eventually walked away from the dialogue over the non-formation of judicial commissions related to the May 9 and November 26 incidents.
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“Imran Khan simply doesn’t believe in negotiations,” Sanaullah claimed, adding that Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for talks still stands. He noted that even the National Assembly speaker has shown a willingness to mediate between both sides.
As PTI struggles with internal cohesion, Imran Khan has declared himself the party’s patron-in-chief, while Barrister Gohar Ali Khan remains chairman. The party has announced a nationwide protest campaign aimed at ousting the PML-N-led coalition and reclaiming what it calls its “stolen mandate.” However, no protest date has been confirmed yet.
With mounting challenges on the political front, Sanaullah emphasized the need for unity and collaboration rather than further division. “Let’s solve our issues together, through dialogue, not disruption,” he concluded.
