Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urges the opposition to join parliamentary committees and work together to address Pakistan’s political and economic challenges.
WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended an olive branch to Pakistan’s opposition, calling for greater political cooperation and urging opposition lawmakers to return to parliamentary committees.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister stressed the importance of working together to address the country’s challenges and said meaningful progress requires cooperation from both the government and opposition.
Shehbaz calls for political cooperation
The prime minister used the phrase “it takes two to tango” while stressing that dialogue and cooperation require participation from both sides.
He urged opposition lawmakers to play their role in parliament and contribute to the legislative process rather than remaining disengaged from parliamentary committees.
Shehbaz said the government was willing to work with the opposition on matters of national importance and emphasised the need to move beyond political confrontation.
Government seeks opposition participation
The prime minister’s remarks came amid continued political tensions between the government and opposition parties.
The government has repeatedly called for political dialogue, while opposition parties have raised concerns over political and legal issues involving their leadership and lawmakers.
Shehbaz’s latest comments signal an attempt to create space for greater parliamentary engagement and reduce political friction.
Focus on national challenges
The prime minister also stressed the need for political forces to work together to tackle the country’s economic and other national challenges.
He said parliament should remain the primary forum for political discussion and legislative work.
The call for cooperation comes as the government seeks to advance its legislative agenda while facing criticism from opposition benches.
A return to parliamentary committees could provide an avenue for lawmakers from both sides to engage directly on legislation and policy matters.
Political dialogue remains key
Pakistan has experienced prolonged political polarisation in recent years, with disagreements between successive governments and opposition parties frequently spilling into parliamentary proceedings and public protests.
The latest appeal from Shehbaz Sharif comes as political parties continue to debate the way forward on several national issues.
Whether the opposition responds positively to the government’s call for cooperation remains to be seen.
For now, the prime minister’s message is focused on parliamentary engagement, political dialogue and cooperation on matters considered important to the country.
