In a significant move amid growing political tension, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the government is open to inviting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the All-Parties Conference on terrorism.
While talking to a private TV channel on Thursday, the minister said the ruling coalition is ready to include PTI in the national dialogue. “We are ready to invite PTI to the All-Parties Conference, but they should attend the meeting without setting any conditions,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a press conference in Quetta, stressed the importance of political unity. He called on all political forces to come together and frame a joint plan to eliminate terrorism and restore economic stability in the country.
The prime minister also confirmed plans to organize an All-Parties Conference after consulting political stakeholders. He emphasized that fighting terrorism requires a united national front.
PM Shehbaz had visited Quetta to stand in solidarity with the people after the tragic hijacking of the Jaffar Express. He also reviewed the overall law and order situation in the region.
During the rescue operation, security forces killed all 33 terrorists belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). These militants had taken control of the train. Sadly, 21 passengers and four Frontier Corps personnel were martyred during the tragic event.
The upcoming All-Parties Conference aims to provide a platform for all political players to build consensus against extremism. The government believes national dialogue is essential to handle both terrorism and economic challenges.
Khawaja Asif also took a veiled jab at PTI’s political behavior. He reminded that PTI had skipped the multi-party conference held in October last year. That meeting was called by the government to condemn Israeli aggression in Gaza.
The Defence Minister noted that parties like PML-N and PPP never made demands or set conditions when it came to discussions on national interest. He urged PTI to follow the same path and participate in the All-Parties Conference with an open mind.
The government remains hopeful that this national-level gathering will help build consensus on key security and economic issues. The All-Parties Conference is being positioned as a serious effort to bridge political divides and confront shared threats.
