Govt And PTI Begin Islamabad Talks Ahead Of Oct 4 March

Government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf negotiating committees began talks in Islamabad on Friday as both sides met at National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s office. The meeting took place amid rising political tension over PTI’s planned long march toward Islamabad on October 4.

The talks followed weeks of confrontation between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. PTI had initially announced the protest for September 27 before moving it to October 4, while the federal side continued to urge dialogue and warned against a march on the capital.

Before the formal meeting, the government’s joint negotiating committee held an informal discussion to review legal aspects and issues expected to be raised with PTI. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Adviser to the Prime Minister Amir Muqam, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Ejaz Jakhrani, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry were among those present at the venue.

The opposition committee included Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Aamir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh. PTI and allied opposition leaders said they were entering the talks without preconditions and would assess the government’s attitude before deciding the next steps for the long march.

Ahead of the talks, opposition leaders also met Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at the residence of JI leader Mian Muhammad Aslam. The meeting focused on the political situation, the proposed all-parties conference and the October 4 march. JI leaders indicated support for a national consensus agenda covering peace, law and order and the economy.

Hafiz Naeem opposed governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and rejected any move to suspend the Constitution. He called for meaningful negotiations between the government and PTI, while also saying concerns over PTI founder Imran Khan’s health should be addressed.

Government representatives said dialogue was preferable to confrontation and urged the opposition to avoid creating difficulties for ordinary citizens. Talal Chaudhry expressed hope that opposition parties would withdraw the long march call, while Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government’s doors remained open for talks.

The talks come as federal officials have increasingly discussed constitutional options in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, citing the province’s security situation. PTI leaders have rejected any move toward governor’s rule or emergency and insist that the protest will remain peaceful unless their concerns are addressed through political engagement.