Govt doors for talks open, but state cannot be held hostage: Rana Sanaullah
“Rana Sanaullah says the government remains open to talks but will not accept demands by holding the state hostage, while defending its counterterrorism policy. I…”
IISLAMABAD —Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said the government’s doors for negotiations remain open, but no demand can be accepted by holding the state hostage.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Rana Sanaullah said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also tried to convince PTI to avoid prioritizing its personal political agenda over national interests. He alleged that PTI’s agenda had been to create political instability in the country and promote a culture of abuse in politics.
He said political instability began in 2014, when PTI staged a 126-day sit-in in Islamabad, adding that the party had repeatedly attempted to march on the federal capital. Rana Sanaullah said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources were being used for political purposes while customs and police personnel were being killed in the province.
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He said the government would not tolerate the KP government’s conduct. He claimed that PTI had been unable to gather even a few thousand people since launching its long march on October 4, alleging that organizers had earned millions of rupees under the pretext of the march.
The prime minister’s adviser said the issue that caused a deadlock in negotiations was being presented incorrectly. He rejected the impression that the government’s counterterrorism policy was being formulated without consultation, saying the policy was already in place and being implemented.
Rana Sanaullah also rejected statements by PTI leader Salman Akram Raja regarding security operations, saying the armed forces were courageously fighting terrorists. He said intelligence-based operations were being conducted against those involved in terrorism.
He rejected the impression that a new military operation was being launched that would result in the displacement of people, saying no internally displaced persons were being created and intelligence-based operations would continue. The adviser further said Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China and Türkiye had tried to convince the Afghan regime not to allow its territory to be used against Pakistan.
He said Pakistan’s position had been acknowledged, but guarantees had not been provided.
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