Islamabad (The COW News Digital) — Government and opposition representatives held talks at the National Assembly Speaker’s Chamber on Friday to discuss Pakistan’s political situation, developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the proposed October 4 long march, with tensions reportedly emerging between members of the two sides during the meeting.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the opposition delegation at the start of the meeting. The opposition side included PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Aamir Dogar, while the government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry, Amir Muqam and representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
The meeting was convened as political tensions remain high over the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad on October 4. The party had earlier postponed its proposed September 27 protest, while negotiations were subsequently initiated between the government and opposition in an effort to address political differences through dialogue.
According to reports, the participants discussed the overall political and security situation, particularly developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The proposed long march and the possibility of finding a political understanding over the protest were also among the issues under discussion.
Before the formal meeting, government representatives had indicated that dialogue could provide a way forward. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said both sides were prepared to engage in discussions and expressed hope that some progress could be made during the meeting.
On the opposition side, leaders emphasized the importance of meeting PTI founder Imran Khan before reaching major decisions. Salman Akram Raja said the opposition wanted consultation with the PTI leadership, while Asad Qaiser also described a meeting with Khan as an important part of the process.
Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas similarly maintained that consultation with the PTI founder was necessary for resolving the political dispute. Reports said the opposition also intended to raise issues concerning access to Imran Khan and legal and judicial matters during the discussions.
The atmosphere reportedly became tense when judicial matters and the implementation of court decisions were discussed. Raja Nasir Abbas expressed concerns regarding restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan and questioned aspects of the government’s handling of judicial matters.
Rana Sanaullah responded that courts were functioning independently and that relevant court decisions concerning the proposed march would be implemented. The exchange reportedly led to a heated verbal interaction between the two sides.
According to sources cited in local media, government representatives stressed that any attempt to enter Islamabad through a forceful march would not be accepted. They also argued that flexibility was required from both sides if negotiations were to produce a political solution.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq subsequently urged the participants to exercise restraint and continue the discussions in a spirit of understanding. The meeting is being viewed as an attempt to reduce political tensions and find common ground before the October 4 protest deadline. However, no final agreement had been announced at the time of reporting.
