News
October 02, 2026
Govt-Opposition Talks to Resume Saturday after No Breakthrough in First Round
By Waqar Satti
Islamabad: The government and opposition will resume talks on Saturday after their first round of negotiations ended on Friday without a decision.
The first round of talks between the government and the opposition was held at the National Assembly speaker's chamber, ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) scheduled long march towards Islamabad on October 4.
The six-member opposition delegation includes PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
The government delegation includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PM's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Sherry Rehman and others.
During the meeting, the interior minister presented a briefing on the law-and-order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI reconstituted its delegation for the meeting after Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai refused to attend the meeting at the NA speaker's chamber, saying he would attend the talks if they were held at a neutral location.
Sources said that PTI leadership rejected TTAF chief's demand and formed a new delegation for talks.
‘Talks held in cordial atmosphere’
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the PTI chief said the first round of talks with the government was held in a good atmosphere, adding that the meeting lasted about an hour.
Both sides conveyed their respective positions, he said, adding that the opposition had presented its demands in a simple and clear manner.
Gohar said that his party attended the talks without any conditions after being invited by the government.
He expressed hope that matters would move in a positive direction.
The PTI leader said that the second round of talks would be held at 2pm on Saturday.
He was of the view that negotiations and the PTI’s long march would continue simultaneously.
He said there was no room for imposing governor's rule or an emergency in KP.
For his part, Sanaullah said that no decision could be reached during the first round of talks between the government and the PTI.
He said the two sides would resume negotiations tomorrow, adding that he could not say anything about progress at this stage.
The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march towards the federal capital from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party has said the protest is aimed at seeking the release of its jailed founding chairman Imran Khan and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy. – The News
Arab News adds: PTI, meanwhile, said on Friday its Oct 4 march remained on schedule. The party had postponed the march from Sept 27 after authorities blocked routes toward Islamabad with shipping containers and deployed security forces.
“The positive thing is that the talks are continuing,” PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the media after the meeting, denying reports that harsh words had been exchanged during the negotiation session.
“Both sides informed each other of their positions,” he said. “Talks will be held again tomorrow.”
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also described the atmosphere as “very positive,” saying the two sides had agreed not to disclose details of Friday’s discussions.
“The very purpose of negotiations is to listen to one another and to find a political solution through dialogue, patience and tolerance,” he told reporters. “And we are moving in that direction.”
A National Assembly Secretariat statement said the talks, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, included detailed discussion of the country’s political situation and that the government, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition representatives had presented their respective positions.
It said the second round would be held in the speaker’s chamber at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“So far the call for long march is intact,” PTI said in a statement earlier on Friday.
The timetable indicates Oct 4 is the departure date, rather than the date protesters would reach Islamabad. The statement did not specify when the march would arrive in the capital.
Friday’s meeting included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, political affairs adviser Rana Sanaullah and federal ministers Amir Muqam, Talal Chaudhry and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Senator Sherry Rehman and lawmakers Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani represented the Pakistan Peoples Party, a partner in the ruling coalition.
The opposition was represented by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Amir Dogar.
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