Summery: Government-PTI negotiations ended without agreement as disputes over Imran Khan’s medical access and KP security stalled talks, while the Oct. 4 long march remains planned.
By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Talks between the federal government and the opposition ended without a breakthrough early Sunday, with disagreements over PTI founder Imran Khan’s access to doctors and security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa preventing the two sides from reaching an understanding.
The second round of negotiations began at Parliament House shortly after 4pm on Saturday and continued for several hours as government and opposition representatives sought to defuse tensions surrounding the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, speaking to reporters after the meeting, confirmed that the negotiations had reached an impasse. He said the remaining differences were limited but included the issue of meetings between Imran Khan and his personal physicians.
He also identified the handling of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as another major point of disagreement.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry gave a different account, saying the principal obstacle was the lack of assurances from the KP government over cooperation with the federal authorities in countering terrorism.
He alleged that the provincial government had not fully supported implementation of the National Action Plan. According to Chaudhry, an understanding had been reached on other matters but the security issue prevented a final agreement.
He also referred to constitutional options available to the federal government, amid earlier warnings from government figures about the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency in KP.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman said the negotiating teams had discussed all outstanding issues but claimed that the draft understanding was subsequently revised several times.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, meanwhile, said the party’s planned march remained on schedule. He rejected the possibility of resolving the political dispute through an emergency or governor’s rule and said the opposition’s demands included access to Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
He said the negotiations had stalled mainly over certain security-related issues and that no decision had been taken on when the next meeting would be held.
PTI prepares for Islamabad march
Despite the negotiations, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi continued to publicly outline preparations for the PTI protest.
According to the schedule announced by the chief minister, PTI supporters from several southern KP districts are expected to assemble at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Oct. 4 before beginning their journey towards the provincial capital and ultimately Islamabad.
The caravan is expected to move through areas including Karak, Kohat, Peshawar and Charsadda before reaching Khairabad. Further details of the final phase towards Islamabad are expected to be announced later.
The PTI leadership has maintained that the protest is aimed at securing the release of Imran Khan and demanding what it describes as constitutional and democratic rights.
Government warns against confrontation
Government representatives have repeatedly urged the PTI to abandon the march while negotiations are under way.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who chaired the talks, had expressed hope that the discussions would continue in a cordial atmosphere similar to the first round held on Friday.
The government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah.
The PPP was represented by Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani.
The opposition delegation included Gohar Khan, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Amir Dogar, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
The latest negotiations were the first formal engagement between the federal government and PTI representatives in nearly three years.
The dialogue process had raised hopes of reducing political tensions, but the failure to resolve the remaining differences has left the situation uncertain ahead of the PTI’s planned mobilisation.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also called for political engagement, arguing that political disputes should be resolved through political means. He has urged PTI to withdraw its protest call to create space for dialogue on wider political and security challenges.
Meanwhile, government officials have warned that authorities are prepared to respond if the protest creates a law-and-order situation, while PTI leaders have rejected the prospect of emergency measures in KP.
With the talks ending without an agreement, attention is now shifting towards Oct. 4, when the PTI plans to begin its march, raising concerns over a possible escalation of political tensions between the federal government and the opposition.