Pakistan Political Crisis Deepens as PTI March Advances Towards Islamabad Amid Failed Talks
By : Alia Kashmiri
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political tensions intensified on Thursday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led long march continued towards Islamabad after formal negotiations between the opposition party and the federal government broke down.
The march, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, began after several rounds of talks failed to produce an agreement, particularly over counterterrorism measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI’s wider political demands. Thousands of PTI supporters have been taking part in the mobilisation, while the federal government has increased security around the capital. Reuters
Despite the collapse of formal negotiations, however, communication between the two sides has not completely stopped. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have continued contacts in an effort to find a way to prevent the confrontation from escalating further. The News Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Formal Talks Collapse Over Counterterrorism Dispute
The government and PTI had held several rounds of negotiations before the march began. According to reports, the discussions made progress on some political and legal issues but eventually broke down over disagreements concerning counterterrorism policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PTI has argued that decisions regarding counterterrorism operations in the province should involve consultation with the provincial government and other political stakeholders.
The federal government, meanwhile, has accused the KP administration of failing to adequately address the worsening security situation and has insisted that national security measures cannot be delayed by political disagreements. Geo News
The failed talks prompted PTI to move ahead with the long march despite warnings from the government that protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad in violation of restrictions. Reuters reported that the government had deployed heavy security around the capital as the march moved forward. Reuters
Gohar-Naqvi Backchannel Remains Open
While formal negotiations have stalled, a separate channel of communication appears to remain active.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have held further contacts even after the march began. Reports indicate that both sides are exploring ways to reduce tensions and prevent the political dispute from developing into a larger confrontation. The News
The continued contact is significant because both the government and PTI have publicly exchanged strong accusations in recent days.
Government officials have repeatedly called for negotiations, while PTI leaders have maintained that political issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than administrative or emergency measures.
Fazlur Rehman Attempts to Bridge the Gap
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also emerged as a possible intermediary.
A government delegation met Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad, after which he reportedly contacted PTI leaders and conveyed a government offer aimed at resolving the confrontation.
According to reports, Fazlur Rehman had advised against imposing governor’s rule or declaring an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and encouraged the government to pursue a political solution. UrduPoint
PTI subsequently discussed the proposal internally. However, some PTI leaders said that the authority for formal negotiations rested with senior opposition figures including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas. Geo News
The developments suggest that, despite the public breakdown in talks, several political channels remain active behind the scenes.
Government Warns Against Pressure Through Long March
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has adopted a particularly strong position against the PTI’s march.
Speaking in Islamabad, Asif said the government would not accept demands under pressure and warned that the PTI founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, would not receive relief simply because the party was organising a march on the capital.
Asif also accused PTI of repeatedly using marches towards Islamabad to pressure the government. Geo News
The defence minister further alleged that PTI had acted in concert with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These are government allegations, which PTI has rejected.
Asif has also raised concerns about militants operating in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and questioned the provincial government’s ability to maintain security.
Government Raises Possibility of Governor’s Rule
The dispute has also brought renewed discussion about the possibility of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said earlier that an emergency or governor’s rule could be considered if the country’s leadership determined that such a step was necessary to address the security situation. Geo News
Khawaja Asif has similarly said that the government was attempting to avoid such a measure but could consider it if no other option remained. The Express Tribune
However, Fazlur Rehman has reportedly advised the government against taking such steps and has instead pushed for political negotiations. UrduPoint
Federal Government Criticises KP’s Security Record
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Bilal Azhar Kayani also criticised the PTI-led KP government over the province’s security situation.
Kayani alleged that the provincial administration had failed to provide sufficient support to police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), while security forces continued to face attacks.
He accused the provincial government of concentrating on political mobilisation while terrorism remained a major challenge in the province. Geo News
The government has linked its criticism of the KP administration to the wider dispute over counterterrorism policy that contributed to the failure of negotiations.
PTI Rejects Government’s Allegations
PTI leadership has rejected accusations that the party is seeking instability or supporting militant organisations.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has argued that Pakistan’s approach to terrorism needs a fundamental policy review and that decisions concerning counterterrorism should involve consultation with the relevant provincial government.
He has also rejected the suggestion that the PTI-led march is intended to create instability in the country.
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram previously said the party had not abandoned dialogue and blamed the federal government for the failure of negotiations. Geo News
Sharjeel Memon and Shaukat Yousafzai Exchange Accusations
The political dispute has also spilled into exchanges between leaders from different provinces.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon criticised PTI over its approach to terrorism and referred to past statements concerning the Taliban.
PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai responded by questioning the PPP’s record on corruption and security and argued that terrorism had remained a problem in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for decades.
The two sides continued to trade accusations as the PTI march moved forward. Geo News
PTI March Continues Towards Islamabad
The march remains the central focus of the political confrontation.
PTI supporters began moving towards the federal capital from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi playing a leading role in the mobilisation.
The government has taken security measures to prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad if they violate restrictions, while PTI has maintained that its political demands and right to protest should be respected. Reuters
The scale of the mobilisation remains a subject of dispute, with government and opposition figures giving different assessments of the number of participants.
Legal Challenge to Sohail Afridi’s Appointment
Alongside the political confrontation, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is facing a separate legal challenge.
The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has fixed October 15 for hearing a petition challenging Afridi’s appointment as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The case was filed by advocate Sher Afzal Marwat, who has challenged the constitutional and legal basis of Afridi’s appointment.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan will hear the matter. According to the petition, a convicted individual could not lawfully exercise authority to nominate or appoint a public office-holder. Geo News
The petition is separate from the current PTI-government negotiations but adds another legal dimension to the political crisis surrounding the KP government.
Pakistan Faces a Critical Political Standoff
The PTI march has therefore developed into a broader confrontation involving political negotiations, counterterrorism policy, the future of the KP government and the treatment of Imran Khan.
Formal talks have failed, but the continued contacts between Gohar and Naqvi and Fazlur Rehman’s mediation efforts indicate that political communication has not completely ended.
At the same time, increasingly strong statements from federal ministers and PTI leaders, combined with the movement of protesters towards Islamabad, have increased pressure on both sides.
The immediate challenge for the government and PTI is whether the remaining backchannel contacts can produce a political solution before the march reaches the capital and the confrontation becomes more difficult to contain.
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