According to details, Rana Sanaullah, while addressing a national seminar held in Lahore on the occasion of the 52nd martyrdom anniversary of Khawaja Muhammad Rafiq, emphasized the importance of political leaders sitting together to resolve issues and moving the country forward. He urged support for such efforts.
He stated, “Politicians should engage in dialogue with unity, but before sitting down to talk, it is essential to acknowledge the mistakes made by those involved. The Charter of Democracy and the Constitution of 1973 are vital documents. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif issued statements on these documents together, admitting prior mistakes. However, now I am asked to give up my mandate because it is supposedly flawed. Why wasn’t this question raised when the same mandate was in your hands?”
He further added, “It is being said that false cases were made against us, but in the past, numerous cases were filed by you. Did it not occur to you then what you were doing? If negotiations are to succeed, they must be approached with sincerity. The committee members, who are mere actors, follow the lead of the director and producer, which in this case is Khawaja Saad Rafique. We want negotiations with PTI to succeed, but for that, past mistakes must also be acknowledged. If you wish your truth to be accepted, then accept my truth as well. If you refuse, then so be it.”
Rana Sanaullah reiterated that resolving issues through dialogue is essential, as also declared by Nawaz Sharif on October 31, 2023. “The current crisis the country is facing cannot be resolved unless all stakeholders come together and deliberate. My 40 years of political experience suggest that this is the only way forward.”
He also mentioned, “Those who were supposed to respond have remained silent. Prepare yourselves, as messages continue to arrive on WhatsApp, stating that this will remain the case until November 26, 2024. The idea of three names was conceived on October 31, 2023, and crises that have plagued the country for 70 years can be resolved in 70 days. For negotiations with PTI, names like Nawaz Sharif, the founder of PTI, and Asif Ali Zardari should also be included.”
In his closing remarks, he said, “Those who are unwilling to sit down for talks amid this crisis bear responsibility for its continuation. Despite the treatment Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad, and I have endured, even Khawaja Asif supports negotiations. The attitudes that have led us to this point must be addressed and corrected. Diplomatic gestures won’t suffice; it is time to point out specific behaviors. It was similar attitudes on December 20, 1972, that led to the martyrdom of Khawaja Rafiq. Encouragement should be given to those striving for improvement, while those entrenched in stubbornness and arrogance must be called out.”
