Govt, opposition begin second round of talks ahead of PTI's Islamabad march

Delegations from the Pakistani government and the opposition commenced a second round of discussions on Saturday afternoon to deliberate on matters, including the planned October 4 march to Islamabad by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The meeting, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, aimed to alleviate the ongoing political turmoil.

The PTI's march to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan has become a focal point of contention between the party and the federal administration. Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed his resolve to hold the march on October 4 and vowed to prevent a recurrence of the events of May 9, 2023. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry cautioned that Afridi's remarks might impede the ongoing negotiations and advised PTI leaders against engaging in such discourse.

Afridi stated that the PTI is Pakistan's most popular political party and that the nation has the right to peaceful protest under its Constitution. He also detailed the planned route of the march and vowed to continue the struggle until the supremacy of the Constitution and the restoration of an independent judiciary were achieved.

The PTI asserted that all its demands aligned with the Constitution and the law. Chaudhry warned that Afridi's statements could disrupt the negotiation process, urging the PTI to refrain from making such comments until the final stage of the talks. In response, opposition leaders maintained that they were striving to resolve issues democratically. A joint press statement was proposed during the meeting to avert misunderstandings.