ISLAMABAD:  Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided the option of resigning from assemblies would only be considered after former premier Nawaz Sharif returned to the country.

While speaking to media in Islamabad on Friday, Shah Mahmood said that government is willing to negotiate with opposition at the forum of parliament.

“We are willing to have dialogue with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on national issues only, not on the ongoing accountability process. As political people, we believe in dialogue and diplomacy but on the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that no National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) will be given to these corrupt people,” he added.

Referring to PDM’s meeting in Jati Umrah today, FM said that division among opposition parties is evident.

“PPP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) has decided to take part in upcoming Senate and by-elections. They [PPP] have not decided on resignations and long march as well,” he said.

Shah Mehmood said that opposition parties are not even united on the process of submitting resignations.

“PDM had decided that all parliamentarians will send their resignations to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman by December 31, 2020 but Bilawal Bhutto argued that resignations should rather be sent to the party heads. This shows lack of trust and confidence within the opposition’s alliance,” he said.

Condemning the tragic of incident of burning of a Hindu saint shrine by a mob, Shah Mehmood said that the act was an attempt to damage Pakistan's image at international level.

“Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmad has taken notice of the incident,” he added.