Establishment stands by govt, not interested in talks with PTI: minister

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday said that the establishment was standing by the government and playing its role in strengthening Pakistan.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb khanzada Kay Sath” Talal said: “Today, the establishment has changed. It stands by the government. It [establishment] gives priority to Pakistan’s interest and is playing a role in [further] strengthening Pakistan.”   

His remarks came hours after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur claimed that he was in talks with the establishment in a “personal capacity”.

Terming CM Gandapur’s claim “self-deception”, the minister said that the establishment clarified that it was not interested in holding talks with the PTI.    

He said that sometimes relations with “disobedient children” are not normalised.

The state minister said that nobody was engaging with the PTI, adding that Imran Khan-led party was confused and misguiding the people.   

Talal said that PTI wanted to return to power by using the shoulders of the establishment and to escape from the cases.  

He also raised questions over the “will” of the KP government against the menace of terrorism, saying that the provincial movement could not even activate the counter-terrorism department.  

Responding to a question about the NFC award, the minister said that the provincial government would be held accountable for the money received during the past decade.

“Where did the money spend?” asked the minister.        

To another query, he said that the PTI will have to return to parliament for talks, adding that the talks in parliament would be held only on war on terror, economy and for the betterment of the common man. He added that the talks would not be held for any NRO-like deal.