Federal government-opposition talks collapsed after disagreements over counterterrorism measures, political issues and the rights of jailed PTI leaders, with both sides blaming each other.
By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Sunday that negotiations between the federal government and the opposition had collapsed, accusing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of undermining efforts to reach an agreement.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad after an hours-long second round of talks, Naqvi said the breakdown came as the PTI proceeded with its planned long march towards Islamabad.
He also warned that no one would be allowed to violate Islamabad High Court orders related to the protest and said legal action would be taken against those who breached them.
Naqvi said the KP government had initially agreed during the negotiations to provide written commitments and an implementation plan within 72 hours, particularly on counterterrorism measures. However, he alleged that the provincial government later withdrew from those commitments.
According to the interior minister, the proposed commitments included reviewing the Police Act 2026 in view of the security situation, preventing terrorists from operating freely in KP, condemning the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups, and supporting the federal policy on Afghan refugees.
The commitments also included increased funding for counterterrorism operations and police, greater cooperation between the provincial government and armed forces, implementation of the National Action Plan and measures to strengthen security in the merged districts.
“Security must not be politicised while the province is at war,” Naqvi said.
The negotiations began at Parliament House on Saturday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Sunday. The talks focused mainly on the PTI’s planned march to Islamabad, political issues and security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said after the talks that no breakthrough had been achieved. He said disagreements remained over a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his personal physicians, as well as the issue of terrorism in KP.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, however, said the talks failed mainly because the KP government could not provide assurances about future cooperation in the fight against terrorism. He also alleged that the provincial government was unwilling to implement the National Action Plan.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi rejected the allegations and shared on social media the draft proposals presented by his side during the negotiations.
Afridi said none of the demands in the draft was unconstitutional or illegal. The proposals called for regular meetings between the prime minister and opposition leaders, the formation of a joint political negotiating committee and progress on political and constitutional issues through dialogue.
The KP government also sought guarantees for the legal, medical and human rights of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, including access to family members, lawyers and personal or nominated doctors in accordance with jail rules and the law.
The draft further called for speedy processing of prisoners’ appeals where legally possible and humanitarian consideration for women political prisoners, including Yasmin Rashid and Bushra Bibi.
On security, Afridi proposed regular consultations between the federal and provincial governments to develop a joint strategy for combating terrorism and restoring peace in KP.
The opposition also offered to call off the ongoing long march after receiving written assurances from the federal government on implementation of the agreed measures.
Afridi said the PTI would reserve the right to peaceful and lawful protest if the government failed to honour its commitments or disrupted the negotiation process.
The conflicting accounts from both sides indicate that major differences remain unresolved, particularly over security policy in KP, political negotiations and the treatment of jailed PTI leaders.