The Pakistan Army has welcomed dialogue among political parties to address national challenges and move the country forward.
During a press conference, DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among political stakeholders. He stated, "It is good that all political parties sit together to progress the country forward. Dialogue is essential for stability and development."
The DG ISPR reiterated that the Army stands committed to supporting all efforts aimed at strengthening democracy, and national progress, and ensuring peace and prosperity for the people of Pakistan.
Read more: First round of PTI-govt talks concludes ‘positively’
The first session of talks between the government and opposition negotiation committees, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, lasted for around two hours and concluded on a positive note as both sides vowed to continue the talks.
Both sides expressed goodwill and termed the meeting a significant ‘step forward’.
The government committee included Ishaq Dar, Irfan Siddiqui, and Rana Sanaullah, while Abdul Aleem Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and Dr. Farooq Sattar were also part of the discussions. Representing PTI, Asad Qaiser, Raja Ansar Abbas, and Hamid Raza participated. Asad Qaiser explained that other PTI members could not attend due to court cases abroad.
Both committees highlighted the importance of Parliament as a critical forum for resolving national issues and expressed optimism that the negotiation process would continue.
The opposition committee presented an outline of initial demands during the session. They are expected to submit written demands and conditions at the next meeting, which will guide the next steps in the dialogue.
The session concluded with a recitation of Fatiha for the martyrs of the war against terrorism, emphasizing the need for national unity during challenging times.
