Let’s sit down and talk, Pakistan PM Shahbaz extends olive branch to incarcerated Imran

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday offered talks to incarcerated Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan to settle political disputes.

"If their [PTI] founder is facing troubles in jail, I reiterate: come, let's sit down and talk," Shahbaz Sharif told the National Assembly (NA).

He said that there was a time in the Lower House of Parliament when politicians would severely criticise one another, but they would also stand with their rivals through thick and thin.

"We joined the parliament despite the rigged] polls,” the prime minister said about the 1918 general elections, and added that the sort of slogans that were raised during his first speech in the National Assembly will always be remembered as a dark chapter in the history books.

"If someone is facing any injustice, then I believe that the scales of justice should be in favour of those being victimised; there is no difference over it — whether it be any politician or anyone from any walk of life."

Shahbaz Sharif interacts with female parliamentarians during the NA session. 

Shahbaz deplored that while he was in the opposition, he had proposed to Imran Khan to sit on the talking table but such slogans were raised again. "So who is responsible for this bitterness among politicians? We don't even shake hands now.”

In a quick response to the premier’s olive branch, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and PTI stalwart Omar Ayub reiterated that his party would talk with the "Form-47" government once Imran Khan and other incarcerated workers and leaders were out of jail. This should be in your minds: you torture our workers, you've kept our lady workers in prison vans at 45°C. My prime minister Imran Khan was kept in a death cell, there's an oven-like environment over there.”

While there was a ruckus over his remarks, Ayub said that the proceedings could only continue if the government members respected their opposition colleagues. "Reconciliation will take place when you realise the abuse of PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid, Mehmoodur Rasheed, and Hassan Niazi."

As the premier said that he faced the worst conditions in jail, Ayub claimed that when former premier Nawaz Sharif was in prison, he had air conditioners installed in his cell.