Talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf began on Friday at the National Assembly speaker’s chamber in Islamabad. The discussions come just two days before the party’s planned long march toward the capital, scheduled for October 4.
The six-member PTI delegation includes party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh. On the government side, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, PPP leader Sherry Rehman and other officials are taking part.
During the meeting the interior minister gave a briefing on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI had to reconstitute its delegation after Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai refused to attend talks held inside the speaker’s chamber. He had insisted on a neutral venue. Party sources said the leadership rejected that demand and quickly formed a new team for the negotiations.
Barrister Gohar confirmed earlier that the party’s political and core committees had approved the six names. The development follows the PTI’s acceptance of the government’s offer for dialogue a day earlier. Gohar said the message from the government was received on Wednesday and accepted in line with decisions taken at an opposition leaders’ meeting the same day.
The party had postponed its long march from September 27 to October 4. Leaders say the protest is meant to seek the release of founder Imran Khan, who remains in jail, and to demand what they describe as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Speaking to the media at Parliament House, Rana Sanaullah urged the opposition to withdraw the long march call while talks are underway. He said long marches and disorder do not solve problems and that matters pending in the courts must be decided by the courts. He added that issues suitable for discussion can be taken up at the negotiating table. Sanaullah also noted that Imran Khan had been shifted to a hospital for a medical check-up by a panel of senior doctors and that the government would follow any clear court directions.
The talks mark a rare attempt at dialogue between the two sides at a time of high political tension. Both sides will now try to find common ground before the October 4 deadline.
