System to soon realise it can’t move forward without PTI: Raja

ISLAMABAD: After shutting the doors on negotiations with the government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Friday claimed the “system” would realise soon it could not move forward by ignoring the Imran Khan-founded party, reports Geo News.

His remarks came a day after the PTI rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to resume the stalled talks with the ruling coalition, a move that triggered speculation regarding political instability in the days to come.

PTI is apparently shifting to “agitation mode”, as PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter President Junaid Akbar, earlier this week, said that the party had multiple options, including staging protests at the district level against alleged rigging during last year’s general elections and a demonstration at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

He was of the view that the opposition party’s desire to hold dialogue with the government was misconstrued as its weakness. Akbar had elaborated that PTI’s “homoeopathic leadership” would be sidelined after reorganisation and “hardliners” would be appointed to key positions.

Speaking on a local TV show today, the PTI leader said his party was ready to move forward according to the Constitution and law.

“We realise that we are Pakistan’s largest political party. We want to bring stability to the country and we believe the presence of PTI is providing stability to the country.” “If you shrink the PTI, that is not possible, then extremist elements will be strengthened. We believe that the system will soon realise that moving forward is not possible without us,” he added. Responding to a question, he said neither the party was holding backdoor talks nor such contacts were needed.