A day after Imran Khan offered the government dialogue if early elections are announced, the ruling PML-N hit back saying dialogue can only be unconditional.

“Elections should be fair and they should be held on time,” Khawaja Saad Rafique said in Lahore on Saturday. “Abuse, threats and dialogue can’t happen simultaneously.”

The minister said that it was PML-N who had always offered the option of dialogue to Imran Khan, even offering a charter of economy, but the PTI chief never even shook their hand. “He surpassed dictators in his pharaonic attitude,” Rafique added.

Imran Khan had asked the PDM government on Friday to start negotiating for an election date, otherwise he would dissolve the KP and Punjab assemblies.

“They (PTI) need dialogue, not us,” he said. He also said that PML-N’s allies in the PDM were set against giving Imran Khan any kind of face saving.

Rana Sanaullah said that if Imran Khan did dissolve assemblies, he would be left ‘shelterless’. He accused Imran Khan of organising political activites by using the resources of the two provinces where he is in power.

“They reisgn and run away from assemblies every time,” the minister said. “Come and solve this problem like political problems are solved.”