LAHORE: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday stressed the need for a national dialogue, saying Pakistan required sustained political and economic stability to move forward amid ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition.
Addressing a seminar in Lahore, the law minister said politics was a continuous process and that no country could progress in an environment marked by instability. He noted that Pakistan had experienced periods of both tolerance and violence, adding that it was the responsibility of political leaders to manage these tendencies through dialogue rather than confrontation.
“We feel the need for a national dialogue, only for the sake of our beloved country,” Mr Tarar said, emphasising that politicians must play their role in preventing violence and extremism from entering mainstream politics. He also called for restraint, respect for dissent, and the ability to listen to opposing views, urging political forces to embrace constructive criticism and work towards a national political charter to ensure long-term stability.
His remarks came amid heightened political strain, particularly following recent developments involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case on Saturday. Relations between the government and the opposition have further deteriorated in recent weeks, contributing to an already polarised political environment.
Speaking at the same event, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said political stability could only be achieved through restraint, mutual respect and sustained dialogue. He warned that confrontation and violence had repeatedly disrupted Pakistan’s democratic process and said no nation could progress through chaos and disorder.
Mr Sanaullah stressed that political instability arises when dialogue is abandoned in favour of confrontation, adding that the government had repeatedly offered talks to the opposition. He also rejected claims regarding selective fairness of elections, arguing that disputes over electoral outcomes should be resolved by political parties through dialogue and parliamentary engagement.
“We feel the need for a national dialogue, only for the sake of our beloved country.”https://t.co/8aKLlbnyPy
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 21, 2025
He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had publicly invited the opposition for talks before the passage of the current budget, including proposing a “Charter of Pakistan” in the presence of military leadership. He urged clarity on who was unwilling to engage in dialogue, saying ambiguity continued to block political stability.
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Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique also addressed the seminar, calling for both a Charter of Democracy and a Charter of Economy. He warned that political confrontation, inter-provincial polarisation and repeated challenges to the sanctity of the vote had weakened public trust and undermined state stability.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), an opposition alliance led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, is holding a two-day national conference in Islamabad, where it has again called for a national dialogue and a new democratic charter among political stakeholders. Despite repeated calls from various quarters, no formal dialogue between the government and opposition has been initiated so far.
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