Islamabad: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday that the federal government and PTI were holding “off the record” talks over the party’s planned march on Islamabad on October 4.

He said the decision on whether to proceed with the march rested with PTI’s leadership, with whom consultations were continuing. The government had made arrangements to prevent protesters from entering Islamabad if the march went ahead.

Sanaullah argued that the involvement of the PTI led the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to distinguish the planned march from a protest organised solely by a political party. He said the government would enforce the law if protesters attempted to enter the capital.

Asked about the possibility of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sanaullah said the option remained “on the table”. The federal government and its allies have also discussed possible constitutional measures in the province.

The adviser also criticised the KP government's performance, alleging that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had focused on the planned march rather than development, counterterrorism and public welfare. Sanaullah made these claims, but his remarks did not independently establish them.

PTI, meanwhile, has maintained that the October 4 march will proceed and says the demonstration will be peaceful. Party leaders have opposed the possible imposition of an emergency or governor’s rule in KP.

The march is part of PTI’s campaign seeking the release of party founder Imran Khan. It was initially scheduled for September 27 before being postponed to October 4.

The dispute comes as the federal government considers its response to the march and the situation in KP.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Wednesday that an emergency in the province was under consideration, while reports on Thursday said no decision to impose either an emergency or governor’s rule had been taken at that stage.