The first round of talks between the PTI-led opposition and the ruling coalition over the party’s proposed Oct 4 long march concluded on Friday, with both sides agreeing to resume the dialogue on Saturday.
The meeting between government and opposition representatives, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was aimed at defusing the country’s ongoing political crisis, with the PTI’s planned Oct 4 protest march demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan emerging as the latest point of contention between the party and the federal government.
According to a statement issued by the NA Secretariat, the participants held detailed discussions “on the prevailing political situation and exchanged views on various matters of national importance”.
“The government, PPP and opposition representatives apprised each other of their respective positions and held a detailed exchange of views in a constructive and cordial manner. The participants emphasised the need to resolve national issues through dialogue and negotiations,” it said.
The statement added that the second round of talks would be held on Saturday at 2pm in the NA speaker’s chamber.
“NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq played a key role in facilitating dialogue among the government, PPP and opposition,” the statement said.
The delegations were welcomed by Speaker Sadiq upon their arrival. “I am only playing the role of a mediator,” he said.
Sadiq said his office was “always open” to resolving issues through negotiations and that he had consistently invited the opposition to engage in dialogue. He maintained that negotiations were the only way to resolve differences and issues, adding that positions and offices were temporary.
“Parliament is the only forum where solutions to issues can be found,” he said.
In an earlier post on X, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) said the opposition side was being led by the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Minister Amir Muqam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry attended the meeting, along with PPP Senator Sherry Rehman and National Assembly members Syed Naveed Qamar and Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani.
The opposition was represented by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Abbas, Amir Dogar, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja.
As the PTI remains resolute to go ahead with the march, federal ministers have warned that the Centre would have no other option but to impose the governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in light of the security situation in the province and the PTI’s protest call.
For its part, the opposition party has warned the government of dire consequences if such a decision is imposed.
Sherry says PTI will have to call off its march
Speaking to the media after the meeting, PPP’s Sherry said the party believed in resolving issues through negotiations.
She said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had stated the party’s stance on the long march and that the PTI had to call it off “unconditionally”.
“They will have to call it off rather than postponing or deferring,” she said.
“Both parties have time; we will meet tomorrow. We will try to conclude this by tomorrow,” she stated.
Talking about the opposition’s reported demand of facilitating a meeting with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, she said she could not answer the question. However, she said the opposition had asked for time and “we should respect it”.
“A political and democratic attitude requires sitting at the negotiation table and resolving the issues through dialogue,” she stated.
Later, Bilawal welcomed the government’s decision to work with his party and jointly engage with the opposition “to find political solutions to political problems”.
“The challenge of terrorism has become an existential threat to Pakistan, particularly given the active support these groups receive from neighbouring countries,” he wrote on X.
The PPP chief expressed hope that the talks would conclude with the opposition unconditionally calling off the long march, which would allow the country to come together to address the threat of terrorism and those from neighbouring countries.
“The PPP has been, and will always remain, committed to combating terrorism through any and all constitutional means,” he added.
‘Govt should engage with integrity’
The Senate opposition leader, speaking to the media at his office during a break in talks with the government, said the government should engage with the opposition “with integrity” and take steps towards resolving the issues.
“If the government cares about the political crisis, then it should sit with the opposition with integrity and step forward to find a solution,” Abbas said.
Regarding PTI’s long march, he said the call would remain “intact” until a solution was found.
“Negotiating is the way of political leaders; negotiations could resolve gigantic issues and war,” he said, adding that “it, however, depends on the government’s intention”.
He questioned whether the government, as the other party to the negotiations, genuinely wanted to resolve the issues.
“They are in government and it is their responsibility to maintain peace, resolve crises, and ensure economic stability,” he said.
Abbas reiterated that the outcome depended on how “autonomous” the government was and whether it had the “intent” to pursue negotiations.
Speaking to the media after the talks, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that both parties had shared their stances on “all the issues”.
Regarding negotiations with the government, he added that “Abbas and Mehmood Khan Achakzai have the mandate for these things”.
During an opposition alliance meeting yesterday, he said, the party had decided to attend the talks with the government and give their stance if it called on the opposition.
“The positive aspect of this talk is that it is still continuing and we’ll meet again tomorrow,” he said, adding that tomorrow’s talks would be held by the same opposition committee that held them today.
Asked what the party would do if the PTI were to gain access to Imran and he were to once again call for a long march, he said: “We always act upon the directions given by Khan sahab.”
A day earlier, it emerged that a joint delegation of the PPP and the government would hold a meeting with the PTI leadership on Friday, during which the “current political situation” in the country would be discussed with the opposition.
The decision came after a meeting at the presidency attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and other party leaders.
Sanaullah also said on Thursday that the federal government and PTI were engaged in “off-the-record talks” regarding PTI’s planned protest.
Sanaullah said that the decision on the proposed march rested with PTI’s senior leadership, “with whom off-the-record consultation is ongoing”.
“So let us see, even if they do not postpone it, we have arrangements in place to stop them,” he warned.
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