Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday once again extended an olive branch to the opposition, stating that if they are ready, the government is equally prepared for talks and reconciliation. This gesture follows the conclusion of the National Conference organised by the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), where participants agreed that in a democracy the door to dialogue must never be closed. These are, undeniably, positive signals.

The opposition alliance appears to recognise that unrelenting hostility is a political dead end, and that the essence of democracy lies in engagement rather than permanent confrontation. Opening the door to dialogue, seeking negotiated outcomes,........

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