The federal government and the joint opposition began talks on Friday on the political and security situation, including developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned October 4 long march. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq hosted the meeting at his chamber in Parliamanet House in Islamabad. The talks followed a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where the country’s political and security situation, particularly developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were reviewed.

The Nawaz League's government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have formed a joint eight-member delegation for the talks. It includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam from the government, Talal Chaudhry and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while PPP representatives are Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan will lead the PTI delegation. According to the latest reports, the opposition side will also include Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar, Salman Akram Raja and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

Raja Nasir Abbas is representing the wider opposition alliance in place of Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who has not joined the talks. The talks come amid continuing disagreement over the PTI’s planned October 4 march and discussion within government circles about possible constitutional measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The parties are also expected to discuss the broader political and security situation in the province. On the social media platform X, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had confirmed that his party accepted the government’s invitation for talks and said the meeting would take place at noon in the National Assembly speaker’s office.

He has continued to maintain that the PTI’s October 4 protest will be peaceful. The government has also been discussing the possibility of emergency measures or governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the reporting, the option of emergency was discussed during the meeting at the presidency, but the ruling coalition decided to give dialogue with the opposition an opportunity before considering further steps. Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has said that government representatives and senior PTI figures have also been engaged in back-channel discussions over the proposed march.

The government has said it wants the political situation to be addressed through dialogue while maintaining that it has preparations in place should the march proceed. Before the negotiations between the government and the opposition, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry met National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Friday to discuss arrangements for a meeting between government and opposition committees. Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, Talal Chaudhry said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party had always tried to resolve political issues through dialogue.

“Hopefully, the opposition will not miss this opportunity for talks,” he said, adding that the government had never been reluctant to engage in dialogue and had not allowed ego to stand in the way of negotiations. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also welcomed the planned talks, saying the opposition was coming to the negotiating table and that the government would participate with positive expectations. He said resolving issues through dialogue would be beneficial for the country as well as the prevailing political situation.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)