Govt-Opposition Talks Collapse As PTI March Begins

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that talks between the federal government and the opposition had collapsed after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf began its long march, deepening the political standoff between the Centre and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. He accused KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of undermining the negotiation process and said the latest round of talks had failed to produce an agreement.

Naqvi made the remarks at a press conference in Islamabad after a second round of negotiations between the two sides ended without results. The discussions had continued for several hours and focused on PTI’s planned march, security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and demands related to jailed party founder Imran Khan.

The interior minister warned that no one would be allowed to violate court orders regarding the protest in Islamabad. He said legal action would be taken if the protest crossed lawful limits, signalling that the federal government intends to keep pressure on the march as PTI workers move ahead with their mobilisation.

Earlier, Naqvi claimed that the KP government had agreed during the weekend talks to sign a written agreement and submit an implementation plan within 72 hours, mainly covering counterterrorism commitments. According to him, the provincial side later backed away from those commitments during the final stage of negotiations.

The commitments cited by Naqvi included reviewing the Police Act 2026 in light of the security situation, preventing terrorist groups from finding safe havens, condemning banned militant organisations, supporting the national policy on Afghan refugees, increasing counterterrorism funding, cooperating with the armed forces, and implementing the National Action Plan.

Government representatives said the talks failed largely because the KP government could not assure future cooperation against terrorism. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry alleged that the provincial government did not want to implement the National Action Plan and that even the opposition delegation had left the venue disappointed by the lack of cooperation on security issues.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi responded by sharing the draft he said had been sent to the opposition’s negotiating team. He argued that none of the demands were unconstitutional or illegal, and listed proposals including meetings between the prime minister and opposition leaders, formation of a joint political committee, and assurances on the legal, medical and family meeting rights of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Afridi’s draft also called for regular federal-provincial consultations on terrorism and peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It proposed that authorised representatives from both governments meet within 72 hours to develop a clear and practical security strategy under the Constitution and law.

The breakdown has left the political crisis unresolved as PTI proceeds with its march and the federal government maintains that security and court orders will be enforced. The next phase will depend on whether either side returns to negotiations or whether the confrontation shifts further toward street mobilisation and administrative action.