Situation not satisfactory amid ‘division’ within institutions, says PM’s aide – M Haris

• Sanaullah responds to PTI founder’s approval for talks with govt.
• PM’s aide says “PTI’s mindset is clear” from their past statements. 
• Politician calls for government-PTI talks to be unconditional.

Highlighting the “division” within institutions, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that the prevailing political situation in the country is not “satisfactory”.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Tuesday, the PM’s aide held jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s politics of agitation responsible for the current situation.

The remarks came in response to PTI Chairman Gohar Khan’s statement that the party founder’s agreed to hold talks with government to bring political stability in the country. 

“[PML-N President] Nawaz Sharif also said that everyone should sit together [for dialogue]. Clashes and collisions take place as it has happened to us too,” he said adding that the PTI worked “very hard” in bringing the situation to this point.

Sanaullah maintained the situation would have been better had the PTI not dissolved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies last year.

“Would the situation be the same, if the May 9 events hadn’t taken place?”

The politician said that the PTI was working on to stage another May 9-like violent protests, when violence broke out in the country following the arrest of Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in corruption case last year. 

Charged mobs rampaged and vandalised private and public properties including military installations after Khan was arrested by law enforcement personnel. 

“PTI’s mindset is clear,” he added. 

Sanaullah said that if the former ruling party spoke about the release of its founder, cases against him or the mandate, then “there must be a certain way for it”. 

“If they really intend to hold talks only then they wouldn’t be creating another May 9,” he added. 

The PM’s aide then called for the govt-PTI talks to be unconditional, saying that dialogue was the basis for parliamentary democratic system. 

He added that the ruling party could never refuse to hold dialogue if PTI presents a proposal. 

The incarcerated former premier consented to holding talks with the government, ending months long antagonism against political rivals, earlier in the day.