What happened
According to Dawn, government and opposition representatives engaged in a second round of talks lasting over four hours at Parliament House on Saturday. The session, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was convened to address Pakistan's ongoing political crisis and the opposition's planned protest march on Oct 4. Both sides refrained from speaking to journalists during the meeting to prevent misunderstandings.
Key facts
- The government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and PPP representatives, while the opposition delegation featured PTI interim chairman Gohar Ali Khan and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
- During the meeting, Interior Minister Naqvi briefly left Parliament House carrying a document—reportedly to consult the president—before returning without commenting to reporters.
- Prior to the talks, opposition parties agreed on standard operating procedures proposing a media blackout during discussions and the issuance of a joint statement afterward.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reaffirmed that the Oct 4 march from Lakki Marwat would proceed to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, insisting the protest would remain peaceful.
- Minister of State Tallal Chaudhry cautioned that the Chief Minister's remarks were inappropriate and could jeopardize the dialogue process.
- PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the PTI to unconditionally call off the march so the country could focus on security and terrorism concerns.
Why it matters
The dialogue reflects efforts by parliamentary leadership and political parties to find a political resolution to escalating friction over the upcoming Oct 4 protest. However, contrasting positions on the planned march continue to create friction between the government alliance and opposition leaders. The final official outcome of the discussions was not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 03, 2026 · Image via Dawn - Home