Government and PTI negotiating teams held their first round of talks at Parliament House as tensions continue over the opposition’s planned Islamabad march.
Web Desk: The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began negotiations in Islamabad on Friday as the two sides sought to address the country’s political situation ahead of the opposition party’s planned October 4 long march.
The first round of talks was held at the Parliament House in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who chaired the meeting. Radio Pakistan reported that the participants discussed the prevailing political situation, while the second round was scheduled for 2pm on Saturday.
The negotiations come after weeks of political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government over the planned march towards Islamabad.
Government and PTI Delegations Meet
The government side included representatives from the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser Amir Muqam, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Ejaz Jakhrani, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, according to The Express Tribune.
The PTI delegation included Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Aamir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
The talks followed a decision by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to engage the opposition through a joint government-PPP negotiating committee.
Talks Held Amid October 4 March Plan
PTI had initially announced its Islamabad march for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4.
The proposed march has remained a major point of contention between the opposition and the federal government. PTI leaders have linked their political demands and the future of the march to the government’s response during negotiations.
Before the formal talks, PTI representatives also met Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman as part of consultations with opposition and political groups.
PTI leaders said they were approaching the government talks without preconditions, while also seeking broader political consensus on the issues facing the country.
PTI Seeks Political Consensus
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the opposition would enter the negotiations with sincerity and that the decision on the long march and its next steps would depend on the government’s approach.
PTI leaders have also called for an All Parties Conference to discuss the country’s political and security situation.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Jamaat-e-Islami had accepted the invitation to attend the proposed conference and supported efforts to develop a national consensus on issues including peace, law and order and the economy.
Government Calls for Dialogue
Government representatives have urged the opposition to pursue political dialogue rather than confrontation.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government’s doors remained open for negotiations and that dialogue was preferable to confrontation.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry also appealed to opposition parties to avoid actions that could create further difficulties for the country and expressed hope that the talks would lead to a political way forward.
Security and Constitutional Issues
The negotiations are also taking place against the backdrop of concerns over the security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the political and security situation at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday before deciding to send a joint government-PPP delegation for talks with PTI.
The government has previously discussed constitutional options including governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa amid concerns about the province’s security situation. PTI leaders and other opposition figures have opposed such measures.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court has ruled that political parties and public office holders do not have a lawful right to obstruct the free movement of citizens or block roads in the federal capital.
Second Round Scheduled for Saturday
The first round of negotiations concluded after discussions on the prevailing political situation and matters of mutual interest.
According to Radio Pakistan, the second round of talks will be held at 2pm on Saturday, October 3, in the Speaker’s Chamber.
The outcome of the negotiations and their impact on PTI’s planned October 4 march remain to be determined.
