The ruling coalition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have invited jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to abandon its street protests and engage in “meaningful” dialogue with the government, a media report said on Monday.The Express Tribune newspaper reported that Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised the government’s openness to talks but stressed that Khan’s party must decide with whom it wants to negotiate. Speaking to the media in Lahore, Gilani reiterated the government’s willingness to negotiate. However, the former prime minister said the PTI “seems intent on negotiating with someone else”.
The 71-year-old veteran PPP politician said Imran Khan’s party wants to carve its path by confronting the establishment and the government in court. “(Our) doors are open for meaningful talks but the PTI will have to decide with whom they want to negotiate,” Gilani said.