Islamabad: Federal Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif has announced that the government has decided to convene an All Parties Conference (APC). In an interview, Khawaja Asif stated that the decision to convene the APC has been taken in the national interest. He emphasized the need for opposition parties to come forward for comprehensive negotiations. Dialogue with opposition parties is essential for progress, he added.
Further elaborating, the Defense Minister highlighted ongoing actions based on intelligence across various parts of the country. He praised the sacrifices of the armed forces in the successful fight against terrorism. He expressed confidence that the entire nation, including political parties and the opposition, would support efforts for eliminating terrorism.
Khawaja Asif noted that negotiations were proposed to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but their leadership rejected the offer, preferring to address political issues through other means. He also addressed criticism regarding security-based decisions made in the past, particularly regarding phone tapping, which has recently come under scrutiny.
The government had recently approved the intelligence-based operation “Azm-e-Istehkam,” which faced criticism from opposition parties upon its announcement.
Government Decides to Convene APC, Opposition Parties Urged for Comprehensive Dialogue: Khawaja Asif
