FAISALABAD (MNN); PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah on Sunday reiterated the government’s invitation to PTI for political dialogue, saying it was essential to resolve the prolonged political crises affecting the country.
Speaking to reporters in Faisalabad, he said the government still believed that political issues should be settled at the negotiation table. Sanaullah recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s unconditional offer made in August, inviting all political parties to join the “Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan” (Charter for Stability).
The PML-N leader was addressing the media as by-elections took place in PP-116, where his son-in-law Ahmed Shaharyar is contesting as the party’s candidate. Commenting on PTI’s boycott of most of the by-polls, he criticised Imran Khan, saying he had “never done real politics” and accused him of creating constant deadlocks.
Sanaullah, who also serves as the PM’s political aide, alleged that Imran Khan was attempting to spread chaos from jail and referred to the May 9 and November 26 incidents as evidence.
He noted that past negotiations between the government and PTI had failed due to mutual accusations. He also referred to PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s recent statement that no talks were underway with the government or establishment.
Regarding the ongoing by-election, Sanaullah said no complaints had been received about the polling process in PP-116. He insisted that PML-N was the only party worthy of public support, urging voters to back development and service delivery.
Speaking about low turnout, he said by-elections typically see only 25 to 30 percent participation, whereas general elections attract 50 to 60 percent.
Sanaullah warned against allowing incidents similar to those of 1999 or 2017/18, claiming that political conspiracies in those years had injected hatred into national politics.
Highlighting his own electoral record, he said he had contested seven elections, winning five, and rejected allegations of rigging, saying the entire polling and counting process was transparent.
He added that the “era of development” had returned under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Sanaullah noted that development projects worth Rs70 billion in Faisalabad, including a metro system and citywide fresh-water supply scheme, had been paused to comply with ECP rules until after the election.
