Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman briefs media representatives at parliament in Islamabad.—AFP/File

ISLAMABAD Political confrontation must be avoided for the sake of the country and there is a need to strengthen institutions, federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman said on Friday.

Speaking to private TV channels, she said the PPP government believed in amicably resolving issues, with a spirit of reconciliation.

Answering a question about PML-N`s conditions for talks, she said imposing conditions even before talks had started was against the spirit of democracy.

She stressed the need for creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and said bitter rhetoric and personal attacks should be avoided. There was a need to adopt a flexible attitude and demonstrate sincerity to solve thorny issues.

Ms Rehman said the government had never shut doors for negotiations and it had been making sincere reconciliation efforts.

Referring to efforts of the Balochistan chief minister, she said `We are not responding to any allegation in the same tone. We have advised our workers to remain peaceful.`

`The president has offered no rejoinder, nor has the prime minister responded in the same (manner of) language, but no one can (hope to) dictate on politics of rejectionism and boycotts. Negotiations to end deadlocks are not done at gunpoint, neither is dictation given in the media. We can resolve everything in parliament.`

`Whoever wants to wage the battle on streets is trying to plunge Pakistan into the abyss of instability. This is neither the time nor the situation to plunge the country into politics of street fighting, nor (is it appropriate) to declare open rebellion against the state.`

Earlier, speaking in the National Assembly after media representatives announced to end their boycott of parliamentary proceedings, Ms Rehman ruled out the possibility of the government imposing curbs on the media.