Open to dialogue with military establishment once PTI govt dismantled, says Maryam

PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz has said that her party is open to dialogue with the military establishment, but only after the incumbent PTI government "is sent home".

Her remarks came during an interview with BBC Urdu.

Maryam is currently on a campaign trail in Gilgit-Baltistan in connection with the upcoming elections for the region's legislative assembly.

She claimed that the establishment had contacted her close associates for talks.

"The establishment has contacted many people around me, but no one has contacted me directly," Maryam said.

Asked whether she was ready to hold talks with the current leadership of the Pakistan Army, she said: "The start of talks from the PDM platform could be considered provided the fake government is sent home."

The PML-N vice-president added: "The army is my institution. We will definitely talk but within the ambit of the Constitution."

She said it will be unacceptable if anyone "tries to step out of the batting crease and play".

"Things will be discussed within the (scope) that has been laid down by the Constitution. And [talks] will now be held in front of the people, not in secret."

Maryam stressed that she is not against any institutions. "I am not against [institutions] but I think this government will have to go home if we are to move forward," she said.

The PML-N leader expressed her willingness to talk to all "stakeholders" but when asked if she is ready to talk to the government, she said: "The dialogue will now take place with the people of Pakistan. And it has already begun. And it is taking place so well that the fake government is nervous.

"And they are so nervous that they do not understand how to react and in their panic, they are making such mistakes that it confounds the mind. The biggest stakeholders in this country are the people."

No 'dead end'

Maryam Nawaz rejected the notion that the politics of PML-N is headed towards a "dead end".

"Wherever we are going, whether it is Gujranwala, Karachi, Quetta or Gilgit-Baltistan, the same statement echoes everywhere: 'Honour the vote'," she said, referring to the party slogan.

The PML-N leader, responding to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's  remarks during an interview in which he said he awaits evidence of claims made by Nawaz Sharif in his speeches, said that her father had spoken after "the evidence had already emerged".

"Pakistan Peoples Party has its own position, PML-N has its own position which mian sahib has made clear," she added.

'Minus Imran Khan govt will be seen'

Talking about an in-house change or "minus Imran Khan formula", Maryam said, "A minus Imran Khan government will be seen. I will not say anything more about it but we will see when the time comes."

She said speaking to this government is no less than committing "a sin".

"In order to bring this country out of the crisis it is in, Imran Khan and the government will have to go home and new, transparent elections will have to be held so a representative government of the people comes to power

Speaking of possibly keeping a path of conciliation open, she said: "In my view, Imran Khan and PTI are not a big issue because I do not consider them political people. My party and I are competing with the thinking that they represent, they represent everything that must be eradicated from Pakistan."