Imran Khan offered to hold talks with govt: PM Shehbaz
Premier refused Khan's offer on two crucial issues; asked him to consider talks on charters of democracy, economy
October 29, 2022
- PM Shehbaz shares Khan reached out for talks.
- PTI chief made offer via a mutual businessman friend.
- Premier reveals Khan wanted to settle two issues.
LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that PTI Chairman Imran Khan offered to conduct talks with the government a month ago through a mutual businessman friend.
PM Shehbaz spoke about Khan's offer during a meet-up with vloggers in Lahore.
"Imran Khan offered [to conduct] negotiations," the prime minister said, adding that the PTI chief wanted to settle two issues through dialogue.
"The first matter was the army chief's appointment and the second was holding snap elections," PM Shehbaz revealed while addressing vloggers.
The extended term of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will come to an end on November 29 and the coalition government has time and again stressed that his successor will be appointed in due course and in line with the Constitution.
The premier said that while he refused to negotiate on the aforementioned matters, he offered to discuss the Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy with Khan.
The prime minister shared that Khan offered to send him three names and sought three from him to appoint the next army chief. PM Shehbaz said Khan told him "let's appoint the army chief together".
"I thanked him and refused [the offer]. I sent a message to Imran Khan that is a constitutional duty that the prime minister has to perform," he shared during the meet-up.
Commenting on the high-level presser held by the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar and Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Nadeem Anjum, the premier said: "General Nadeem Anjum held the press conference with my permission."
Earlier, Pakistan's spy chief, along with Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant-General Babar Iftikhar, exposed Khan's "conspiracy" narrative against the Pakistan Army as well as the country.
The ISI chief said that Khan had offered Gen Bajwa an extension for an indefinite period of time for helping him fail the opposition parties’ no-confidence motion against him.
