Khawaja Asif advises PTI to return to the negotiating table

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the government will not accept the demands of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a result of protests or political pressure. According to him, if the politics of blackmail continues, the scope for any relief for the founder of PTI in the future will be further limited.

Talking to the media at Parliament House, Islamabad, Khawaja Asif termed the possibility of PTI’s long march as an attempt to put pressure on the government. He said that political issues should be resolved through negotiations, not by repeatedly advancing towards the capital.

The Defence Minister advised PTI to return to the negotiation process and focus on the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to him, along with the anti-terrorism operation in the province, the alleged funding and support of terrorist groups must also be stopped.

Khawaja Asif said that the tradition of protest marches towards Islamabad every few months is not suitable for the political system. He also demanded that PTI come up with a clear political stance on the TTP and its alleged facilitators.

Referring to the activities of terrorists in some districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that there are serious questions regarding the state administration there. According to the defense minister, the provincial government should take effective steps to maintain law and order and state writ in its areas.

Regarding the founder of PTI, Khawaja Asif said that the government will not decide to provide relief to him under any pressure. He made it clear that the strategy of meeting demands through protest or force will not succeed.

The defense minister once again called the talks a political path and urged the PTI to move forward with the dialogue process and focus on the administrative and law and order issues of his province.