PTI begins second round of talks amid deadlock over Islamabad march

The second round of negotiations between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) commenced, though talks remain deadlocked concerning the PTI's planned long march towards Islamabad on 4 October. The initial discussions took place on Friday within the National Assembly speaker's chamber.

The opposition group's delegation comprised six members, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar, and Haleem Adil Sheikh. Mahmood Khan Achakzai declined to attend the meeting at the NA speaker's chamber, asserting his presence would require a neutral venue.

The PTI chairman stated that the meeting duration was approximately one hour. Barrister Gohar wrote that the subsequent round of talks would occur at 3 pm on the day of the post.

Furthermore, PTI members suggested that postponing the long march would occur if the government demonstrated positive movement during the talks. A majority of PTI members expressed the view that the negotiations needed to be broadened in scope.

Some PTI members also proposed that the group could withdraw from national and provincial assemblies should the federal government impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The meeting concluded with an agreement that no statements should be released to the media during the negotiations.

Members suggested that a meeting involving Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas with the PTI founder might help establish a path forward. On Friday, negotiations between the government and the PTI commenced at the National Assembly speaker's chamber.

The government side included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PM's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, PPP's Sherry Rehman, and others. The interior minister presented a briefing detailing the law and order situation within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Rana Sanaullah urged the opposition party to withdraw its long march call amid the ongoing talks between the PTI and the government. Sanaullah stated, “Matters that are before the courts have to be decided by the courts.”

The PTI founder was shifted to a hospital for a medical check-up by a panel of senior doctors.