Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui said on Friday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should be mindful of repeating November 26.
Expressing his thoughts on Samaa TV programme, "Do Tok With Kiran Naz", Siddiqui stated, "If PTI wishes to resume negotiations, it should first consider the results of its previous attempts."
He recalled that discussions had initially begun at PTI’s request, and the party had granted the government seven working days for a response.
"The prime minister extended another invitation for talks yesterday, but PTI rejected it outright," he added.
Declaring the negotiation process as terminated, Siddiqui asserted, "The government has faced no difficulties without talks with PTI. They may continue with their agenda, and if they reconsider, we will see."
He maintained that PTI had already accused the government of being powerless and a puppet. "If they wish to negotiate, they should approach those they consider powerful," he said.
Siddiqui accused the PTI of constantly relying on external forces for political survival. "PTI has always leaned on judges or generals; now, the party has pinned its hopes on Trump," he stated.
He emphasised, "The PTI founder will receive whatever is due to him through courts and negotiations, not from Trump or the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."
Criticising the PTI’s approach to governance, Siddiqui said, "They cannot claim they are being denied relief. They have been receiving relief."
He pointed out that a section of the 50,000 resettled individuals still supported PTI. "The letter they have addressed is directed at significant personalities, not the government," he revealed, adding that constitutional officeholders would respond as they deemed appropriate.
Addressing judicial matters, Siddiqui maintained that the government had no role in the judges' letter controversy. "I do not know whether there is a proposal to bring in a chief justice from outside for Islamabad High Court," he commented.
Discussing media regulations, Siddiqui acknowledged flaws in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). "The government should have consulted journalists before implementing PECA, but it did not," he admitted.
"The law should have been put on hold for a few days." He noted that despite criticism, both Pakistan Peoples Party and PTI had supported the law’s enactment. "Only Kamran Murtaza opposed the PECA Act and suggested amendments," he revealed.
Siddiqui likened misinformation in journalism to a viral disease. "Like the coronavirus, a virus has infiltrated journalism, and some form of vaccine is necessary to counter it," he asserted.
He said that discussions with journalist organisations could still take place, and amendments to the law remained possible.
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