Islamabad: Government and opposition representatives concluded their first round of negotiations on Friday and agreed to resume dialogue on October 3, with PTI’s planned march to Islamabad still on the agenda.
PTI will formally submit its demands to the government’s negotiating team on Saturday. The agreement to continue discussions leaves a day for further talks before the October 4 protest seeking Imran Khan’s release.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the march call would remain intact until a solution was found. Speaking during a break in negotiations, he urged the government to engage sincerely and take steps to resolve the political crisis.
“If the government cares about the political crisis, then it should sit with the opposition with integrity and step forward to find a solution,” he said.
The opposition delegation included Abbas, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Amir Dogar, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
Government participants included Mohsin Naqvi, Rana Sanaullah, Amir Muqam, Tallal Chaudhry and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, alongside PPP representatives Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani.
The meeting followed Thursday’s consultations between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the Presidency and PPP announced a joint delegation for talks with the opposition.
Sanaullah had disclosed informal contacts with PTI’s leadership but also warned that authorities had arrangements to stop the march if it was not postponed.
Federal ministers have raised governor’s rule or an emergency in KP as possible responses, citing security concerns and the protest call. PTI has opposed such intervention. Neither measure was announced as an approved decision in the supplied update.
Friday’s talks produced agreement on another meeting, while the dispute over the march remained unresolved. Saturday’s presentation of demands will give both sides a clearer basis for the next round.
