The second round of talks between Pakistan's government and the opposition ended in deadlock on Saturday night, after more than eight hours of negotiations failed to produce an agreement on the opposition's planned long march on October 4.
The opposition refused to withdraw the march unless its representatives were first allowed to meet jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. The government, in turn, insisted that the opposition call off the protest before any such meeting could take place.
The sticking point
The negotiations took place at the chambers of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The opposition made withdrawal of the march conditional on a meeting between Khan and three leaders: opposition leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai, opposition leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Achakzai, who leads the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), told the opposition negotiating team by telephone that no final decision could be taken without first consulting Khan. He proposed that he, Afridi and Abbas be allowed to meet Khan in jail with a single agreed agenda, assured that the chief minister would not speak to the media afterwards, and sought the release of Khan's sisters before any agreement was finalised.
In a late-night post on X, the TTAP quoted Achakzai as saying that neither the negotiating team nor the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had the mandate to withdraw the protest call. "First, we should be allowed a meeting with Imran Khan. After this, we will announce about the fate of the long march," he was quoted as saying.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said the two sides had initially appeared close to an understanding, with several points reportedly agreed upon, but the protest emerged as the main stumbling block. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi moved between the Prime Minister's House, Aiwan-e-Sadr and other key offices during the talks, briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meeting President Asif Ali Zardari.
March preparations continue
Meanwhile, preparations for the long march appear to be continuing despite the lack of a breakthrough. In a late-night post on X, Chief Minister Afridi announced that the first phase of the march would begin at 1 pm on Sunday, October 4, from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. Participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are scheduled to join the caravan, which will halt near Karak for the night.
The march will proceed towards Kohat on October 5, with participants from Karak joining along the route. On October 6, participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are expected to join before the caravan moves towards Peshawar and halts near Matni. On October 8, the caravan is scheduled to leave Charsadda Interchange, with people from across the province gathering at Khairabad, where the plan for the next phase of the march would be announced.
The government delegation comprised Interior Minister Naqvi, Amir Muqam, Rana Sanaullah and Talal Chaudhry, while the PPP was represented by Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani. The opposition delegation included Raja Nasir Abbas, Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
Sources:
Business Recorder: Govt-PPP talks with PTI end in a stalemate
The opposition refused to withdraw the march unless its representatives were first allowed to meet jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. The government, in turn, insisted that the opposition call off the protest before any such meeting could take place.
The sticking point
The negotiations took place at the chambers of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The opposition made withdrawal of the march conditional on a meeting between Khan and three leaders: opposition leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai, opposition leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Achakzai, who leads the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), told the opposition negotiating team by telephone that no final decision could be taken without first consulting Khan. He proposed that he, Afridi and Abbas be allowed to meet Khan in jail with a single agreed agenda, assured that the chief minister would not speak to the media afterwards, and sought the release of Khan's sisters before any agreement was finalised.
In a late-night post on X, the TTAP quoted Achakzai as saying that neither the negotiating team nor the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had the mandate to withdraw the protest call. "First, we should be allowed a meeting with Imran Khan. After this, we will announce about the fate of the long march," he was quoted as saying.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said the two sides had initially appeared close to an understanding, with several points reportedly agreed upon, but the protest emerged as the main stumbling block. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi moved between the Prime Minister's House, Aiwan-e-Sadr and other key offices during the talks, briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meeting President Asif Ali Zardari.
March preparations continue
Meanwhile, preparations for the long march appear to be continuing despite the lack of a breakthrough. In a late-night post on X, Chief Minister Afridi announced that the first phase of the march would begin at 1 pm on Sunday, October 4, from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. Participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are scheduled to join the caravan, which will halt near Karak for the night.
The march will proceed towards Kohat on October 5, with participants from Karak joining along the route. On October 6, participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are expected to join before the caravan moves towards Peshawar and halts near Matni. On October 8, the caravan is scheduled to leave Charsadda Interchange, with people from across the province gathering at Khairabad, where the plan for the next phase of the march would be announced.
The government delegation comprised Interior Minister Naqvi, Amir Muqam, Rana Sanaullah and Talal Chaudhry, while the PPP was represented by Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani. The opposition delegation included Raja Nasir Abbas, Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
Sources:
Business Recorder: Govt-PPP talks with PTI end in a stalemate
