According to a report by Dawn, a second round of talks between government representatives and the opposition ended in a deadlock early on Sunday at Parliament House. The hours-long meeting, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was aimed at resolving an ongoing political crisis linked to a planned protest march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
What happened
The negotiations commenced after 4pm on Saturday, bringing together senior figures from both sides. The government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and PPP leader Sherry Rehman, among others. The opposition was represented by Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, and other alliance leaders. Despite extended discussions lasting into the early hours of Sunday, Senate Opposition Leader Abbas confirmed shortly before 3am that the talks had failed to produce a breakthrough.
Key facts
- Main points of contention: Opposition members stated that discussions stalled over allowing Imran Khan to meet with his personal physicians, visitation requests involving Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, and handling terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
- Draft changes: PPP's Sherry Rehman noted that the draft agreement was altered four times after an initial consensus was reached.
- March status: Barrister Gohar Khan announced that the PTI's planned October 4 protest march to Islamabad remains intact and will proceed, adding that emergency measures or governor rule are not appropriate solutions.
- Protest itinerary: KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi shared a schedule on social media detailing a multi-day caravan starting October 4 from Gandi Chowk Lakki Marwat, passing through Karak, Kohat, Peshawar, and Charsadda, with plans for participants to gather at Khairabad on October 8.
- Next steps: Attendees did not agree on a date or timeline for any future round of negotiations.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the dialogue was designed to defuse political friction surrounding the PTI's protest march demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan. The resulting deadlock leaves the political situation unresolved as opposition supporters prepare to launch their multi-day rally toward the capital. Additional details on future official dialogue schedules were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 03, 2026 · Photo by James Frewin on Unsplash