Shehbaz PTI talks remain open only if the opposition ends its long march to Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday. Speaking at an event in the capital, he made it clear that the government is ready for dialogue but will not accept the politics of sit-ins and street protests.
The prime minister warned that repeated dharnas and long marches first damage the country’s economy. He said the ruling coalition had collectively decided to hold talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to persuade the party to abandon such tactics. “I urge you to come to your senses, end the long march and sit-in, and then we will sit with you,” he stated.
His comments came as the PTI’s long march, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Kohat. The party launched the protest on October 4 after three rounds of talks with the government and PPP collapsed on Sunday. Both sides blamed each other for the breakdown. PTI had earlier postponed the march from September 27 to October 4, while government officials repeatedly said the protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Shehbaz stressed that ongoing protests could hurt exports, imports and manufacturing. He noted that the government had worked hard for two and a half years to stabilise the economy and put the country back on a growth path. “If workers and engineers do not reach factories and offices on time, the loss will be Pakistan’s,” he said.
The prime minister maintained that the government’s efforts reflect the aspirations of the entire nation. He argued that continued street agitation would reverse the progress made and damage the development process that is currently under way.
With the long march still moving forward and the government offering conditional dialogue, the political standoff remains tense. Officials on both sides continue to exchange statements while ordinary citizens watch closely to see whether talks will restart or the protest will escalate further.
For now, the message from the prime minister is firm: end the long march first, and then the door for Shehbaz PTI talks will open.
