PNN: PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah on Thursday underscored the importance of trust-building and regular engagement among Pakistan’s top five leaders, warning that political progress hinges on confidence-building at the highest level.
“Two of them are my leaders, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. The third is President Asif Ali Zardari, the fourth is [incarcerated PTI leader] Imran Khan, and everyone knows who the fifth person is,” Sanaullah said while speaking on a talk show at a private news channel late Thursday. However, Sanaullah did not mention the name of the fifth personality. Sanaullah, who is also the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs, maintained that unless steps are taken to restore trust among them, the country would remain trapped in political deadlock, adding that informal contacts at lower levels would not resolve the crisis. Responding to the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Amir Dogar who was also present during the programme to lead in creating an atmosphere conducive to dialogue, he clarified that his own contacts with Dogar would not lead to any meaningful breakthrough.
The senator underscored that engagement was required at the top leadership level to move the situation in a positive direction.
He also called for shutting down social media accounts running campaigns against state institutions, saying such accounts should be closed.
He rejected PTI leadership’s stance that it had no control or connection with those accounts, asserting that the party could not absolve itself of responsibility by making such claims.
The senator further said the PTI leadership should publicly disassociate itself from those accounts and ensure their closure, adding that if the intent was merely propaganda, it should be directed against rival political parties and politicians rather than state institutions.
Warning the PTI against its February 8 protest call, Sanaullah said the appeal would fail, and the party would be unable to paralyse the country.
He cautioned that any attempt to enforce a wheel-jam strike would result in strict action, leading to further losses for the party. He urged the PTI to withdraw its February 8 protest call, warning that continued confrontation would worsen the situation rather than improve it.
Meanwhile, Dogar, in the same programme, said that his party faced political victimisation in 2025, expressing hope that 2026 would bring an end to such targeted actions. He added that the country achieved a measure of political and economic stability during the past year.
Dogar stressed that the meeting with Imran should be allowed to discuss ground realities and advise on possible solutions.
He specifically requested that the government permit Opposition Leaders in the Senate and National Assembly, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Achakzai, respectively, to meet with the PTI founder. He said that if such engagement takes place, it could open avenues for resolving disputes and ending ongoing conflicts.
Responding to Dogar’s request, Sanaullah said that ending anti-institution social media campaigns could steer the political climate positively and facilitate meetings with the PTI founder, helping to resolve ongoing political tensions.
Sanaullah also revealed that when the PTI founder’s sister recently met him, the jail superintendent instructed her not to speak to the media after the visit, highlighting the restrictions around such high-profile meetings.
Highlighting the importance of high-level consultations, Dogar said that a meeting among the country’s “top five” political figures could put an end to political deadlock.
He acknowledged that such a breakthrough might not happen immediately but stressed the importance of keeping political doors open to dialogue and cooperation.
Meanwhile, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, while speaking on another TV show denied any contacts with the government regarding negotiations.
“We have outright rejected the negotiations,” he said, adding that Imran Khan had stated the PTI would not negotiate with a Form-47 government.
“The decision on whether to hold negotiations with the government rests with Achakzai and Abbas, as they welcomed it in the statement issued by the TTAP after the national conference,” he said.
In response to another question on PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar’s statement regarding meetings with Imran Khan, Akram said: “PTI is dealing with frustration due to his statement, and this is clearly visible outside Adiala prison, where a crowd gathers every Tuesday. FIRs are lodged, people are arrested, yet workers gather the following week.”