ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed readiness to initiate talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on the issue of next general elections in a bid to find a solution to the prevalent political crisis, while confirming that the PTI chairman had approached the government with a dialogue offer.

“After bashing us (ruling PDM leaders) for over four years, now he (Imran) wants to sit at the table for a dialogue. I have put my political rivalry aside for national interest and am ready for talks,” the prime minister said while addressing the laun­ching ceremony of Youth Development Initiative.

PM Sharif also took a jibe at Imran Khan for taking a U-turn over his statements concerning talks with the ruling coalition. “He had said that he would not even shake hands with the opposition [during his stint in power], but now he is ready for talks [with the same parties],” he quipped. “For the last four years, you gave us certificates of thieves and looters and dragged our sisters and mothers to the courts without any evidence. Was that justice,” the premier said while alluding to the PTI’s accountability drive against the political opponents. He also blamed Imran Khan for polarising society by “misleading” youth and added that Imran Khan’s plan will not become successful.

A day earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry admitted that President Arif Alvi was engaged in talks with the government over the issue of elections. However, on Thursday he termed the dialogue “informal”.

Earlier, PM Sharif announced initiatives to provide 20,000 internships to young engineers and 75 scholarships to students for studies in the top universities of the world.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2022