ISLAMABAD: Representatives of the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are holding talks in the chamber of the National Assembly speaker amid heightened political tensions surrounding the party’s October 4 long march towards Islamabad.
The meeting comes after weeks of strained relations between the Centre and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over the proposed protest.
PTI had initially scheduled the march for September 27 but subsequently deferred it to October 4. Meanwhile, the federal government had considered constitutional measures, including the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency, amid concerns over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The government team includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry and Amir Muqam.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Aijaz Jakhrani are also attending the meeting on behalf of the government.
The opposition delegation comprises PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Nasir Abbas and Salman Akram Raja, while Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh are also part of the team.
The talks are being held as part of broader consultations between the government and opposition amid the ongoing political standoff.
Meanwhile, differences have reportedly surfaced between PTI and the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan over the decision to postpone the September 27 march.
Sources within the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan claimed that its leadership was not consulted before the PTI decided to defer the protest.
According to the sources, PTI leadership had also not provided details about the proposed starting point or destination of the march.
They further claimed that no coordination committee had been established and that preparations for the protest were not visible.
The sources said no administrative or finance committee had been constituted either.
They claimed that the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan had presented PTI with a detailed agenda for the march, but the decision to postpone it was taken without consultation.
The sources also claimed that the postponement had caused frustration among PTI workers.
