ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ended in deadlock after the opposition party reportedly refused to agree to the government’s proposed measures against terrorism and the planned October 4 long march.
According to reports, PTI remained reluctant in the Govt-PTI talks to accept practical measures aimed at countering militant elements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security challenges have persisted for years.
The government also linked progress in the negotiations to the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s role in counterterrorism efforts and the withdrawal of the planned march on Islamabad.
Rana Sanaullah said the provincial government was not prepared to play its role in the fight against terrorism. He also warned that the planned long march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad and that any attempt to create disorder would be dealt with according to the law.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, who was part of the government’s negotiating team, said the government had considered the opposition’s concerns and revised its draft four times. She maintained that there could be no compromise on counterterrorism measures.
The government side also objected to the PTI’s position on the long march, which remained a major point of disagreement during the negotiations.
The deadlock came after hours of talks at the National Assembly Speaker’s chamber. Other reports indicate that the opposition made the withdrawal of the October 4 march conditional on a meeting between Imran Khan and senior opposition figures, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Raja Nasir Abbas and KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
The breakdown marks a setback to the latest attempt by the government and opposition to resolve their differences through dialogue, with the October 4 protest and the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remaining unresolved.
