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LAHORE, Dec 21 (APP): Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan has emphasized that political stability is essential for sustainable national progress and development.
He said that dialogue, tolerance and respect for state institutions are essential for ensuring sustainable development.
Addressing the 53rd martyrdom anniversary of Khawaja Rafique Shaheed at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, organized by the Khawaja Rafique Shaheed Foundation, here on Sunday, Rana Sanaullah paid rich tribute to veteran political worker Khawaja Rafique, saying he spent his entire life in struggle and ultimately sacrificed his life for democratic values.
He prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and said such sacrifices must never be forgotten.
The advisor said no nation in the world had progressed through conflict, violence or anarchy, adding that attacks on defence installations were extremely wrong and could not be justified under any circumstances. He said the issue of punishments and restrictions on meetings could only be reviewed when there was clear evidence that individuals had abandoned the path of unrest and violence.
Rana Sanaullah recalled that on May 25, 2022, Islamabad was attacked and armed individuals were brought along. He said had that attack not taken place, the assemblies would have been dissolved and elections held. He added that dialogue on elections had resumed later and matters were close to settlement, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership sought permission from its founder, which was not granted.
He said subsequent events, including those of May 9, were followed by preparations for further unrest, including plans allegedly linked to November 26, 2025. He questioned whether the law allowed unrestricted meetings if they were being used to prepare chaos and disorder in the country, adding that statements and social media posts made after meetings with close relatives of the PTI founder were before the entire nation.
The advisor said that political instability emerges when political parties abandon dialogue and choose confrontation. He said a national conference held recently had once again highlighted the need for dialogue and asked who was actually refusing talks. “If we are the ones obstructing dialogue, tell us; if it is someone else, name them,” he remarked, adding that denying facts would not serve the country.
He said before the passage of the budget on June 30, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif again invited the opposition for dialogue, even offering to sit in the opposition chamber to resolve issues through discussion. In contrast, he said, the PTI founder never engaged with the opposition during his four-year tenure and avoided even symbolic gestures of reconciliation.
He said the success of “Bunyan-um-Marsoos” and Maarka-e-Haq was a historic moment, noting that for the first time in 78 years, even adversaries acknowledged Pakistan’s stance and credited its military leadership. He expressed concern over propaganda campaigns that mirrored hostile narratives, cautioning that such actions had serious consequences.
The advisor said political dialogue, mutual respect and tolerance were the only viable paths forward. He stressed that decisions regarding electoral reforms and democratic processes must be made by political parties themselves, not imposed by any other institution. “Political stability is essential for any nation’s progress, and the ambiguity over who is obstructing it must end,” he added.