ISLAMABAD — National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Friday reiterated the importance of dialogue with opposition parties, telling visiting parliamentarians that mutual respect and personal bonds should transcend politics.
A handout from the NA Secretariat stated that Sadiq met opposition members of both houses in his chamber at Parliament House shortly after the NA session was adjourned due to a lack of quorum. Among those present were Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Senator Faisal Javed, former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, and MNAs Iqbal Afridi, Atif Khan, Sardar Latif Khosa, and Jamal Ahsan Khan.
“Our bond of brotherhood and mutual respect is greater than politics. I have been in contact with you brothers since 2014. Politics does not last a lifetime — it ends eventually,” the speaker said. He added that parliamentarians should cultivate relationships that endure beyond political rivalries.
Sadiq has previously extended offers to facilitate dialogue between the government and the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), but substantial progress has remained elusive. The handout noted that the opposition members appreciated the speaker’s continued efforts to encourage talks.
During Friday’s meeting, PTI’s Barrister Gohar raised the issue of the party founder Imran Khan’s family members being denied access to the incarcerated leader, highlighting ongoing grievances between the party and the government.
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The dialogue issue has been a recurring theme over the past year. Initial talks were held in late December 2024 to lower political tensions, but negotiations stalled over the formation of judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, protests, as well as the release of PTI prisoners.
“Our bond of brotherhood and mutual respect is greater than politics. I have been in contact with you brothers since 2014. Politics does not last a lifetime — it ends eventually,” said the speaker, according to the handout.https://t.co/n5haxeNDlP
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 28, 2025
Speaker Sadiq has consistently maintained that dialogue remains an option. In February, the Shehbaz government extended another invitation, which PTI leaders rejected, citing an intensified crackdown on party workers and nationwide arrests. Similar offers were made in August during a debate on the Kashmir issue, and most recently on November 13, coinciding with PTI protests during the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Despite repeated offers, differences over judicial probes and political arrests continue to hinder meaningful engagement, leaving the prospects of government-opposition dialogue uncertain. Sadiq, however, stressed that sustained communication remains essential to resolving issues and fostering parliamentary cooperation.
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