Responding to PTI chief Imran Khan’s six-day deadline for the announcement of election date and dissolution of assemblies, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says that the National Assembly will decide when to hold elections.

“The doors of the government are open for negotiations but not for blackmail and dictation,” said the premier while addressing the National Assembly session on Thursday.

He said that the government has 14 months left in its tenure and any decision to cut it short lies with the House.

The prime minister said that the parliament has taken a step towards free and fair election after the approval of the Election Act amendment bill.

He said the coalition government came to power with two objectives: ensuring transparent and credible elections and revamping the economy.

The premier said that the PTI-led government had ruined the economy of the country, adding that collective efforts were needed for its revival. “We are trying very hard to strengthen the economy to put the country on the path of development and progress.”

The prime minister said that the no-confidence motion against the former premier Imran Khan was passed through the constitutional way.

Earlier, the National Assembly during the session approved the amendment bills in the Election Act and the NAB ordinance 1999.

Speaking on the floor of the House, the prime minister thanked the lawmakers for the approval of the amendment bills.

Talking about the PTI long march, the premier asked that should a group be given the right to act against the Constitution.

He blamed his predecessor for ruining the country’s economy. “Is there any space for sit-ins during the current situation?” he questioned.

PM Shehbaz said that the previous government was just busy using abusive and derogatory languages against its political rivals but did nothing for the betterment of the country during its tenure.

Recalling Imran Khan’s 2014 sit-in, the premier said that PTI had attacked PTV during its protest. The PML-N government at that time requested them to end the sit-in as the Chinese president was scheduled to visit Pakistan.

“PTI’s sit-in was a conspiracy against the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz.

Speaking about Imran Khan’s long march against the government, the premier said that those who were talking about billion trees were burning the trees in the federal capital.

The premier said that the parliament should condemn the killing of the police constable in Lahore and should move a resolution in the House.

He said that Imran Khan was not worried about the people of Kashmir. “If he was worried about the Kashmiri people, then he should have changed the date of his long march as the Indian court was announcing the verdict against Yasin Malik.”