ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has renewed his invitation to opposition leader in National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai for talks, sending another letter in a fresh bid to revive political dialogue, sources said on Friday.
PM Sharif, who is in the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, urged Achakzai to meet and discuss issues raised by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the sources said.
In the latest letter, the prime minister again extended an informal invitation to Achakzai to “have a cup of tea” and hold consultations on matters requiring consensus between the government and opposition, according to the sources.
Among the issues on the table are the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the sources said.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with ECP members Nisar Durrani from Sindh and Shah Muhammad Jatoi from Balochistan, formally completed their terms on January 26, 2025, but continue to remain in office.
Sharif has asked the opposition to spare time for a meeting, saying issues requiring an understanding between the treasury and opposition benches should be discussed, the sources said.
The renewed outreach comes as the government seeks to keep the lines of communication open with the opposition on political and institutional matters, even as PTI prepares for a long march towards Islamabad.
The prime minister had previously approached opposition leaders for consultations on issues of mutual concern. The opposition, however, has expressed reservations about the government’s approach to the dialogue process.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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