PTI Talks Collapse, Long March Advances Towards Islamabad
By : Alia Kashmiri
Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched its long march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after negotiations with the federal government ended without an agreement. The march, led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, moved from Lakki Marwat towards Islamabad and reached Karak on Sunday night. Business Recorder
The development followed two rounds of talks between the government and opposition on Friday and Saturday. The negotiations were held under the leadership of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq but failed to resolve key differences between the two sides. Business Recorder
Both PTI and the government have blamed each other for the failure of the negotiations while outlining their positions and future plans.
What led to the failure of talks?
One of the major disagreements concerned access to former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, who remains in prison. PTI wanted its senior representatives to meet Khan before withdrawing the planned march. The government, however, wanted the protest to be called off before such a meeting could take place. Business Recorder
PTI also raised concerns about the federal government’s proposed security policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party argued that decisions concerning counterterrorism operations should involve the provincial government and other local stakeholders.
Another major dispute involved the proposed implementation of counterterrorism measures and the government’s demands for greater cooperation from the KP administration.
According to PTI leaders, the provincial government opposed decisions that could lead to major military operations or emergency measures without broader consultation.
Government’s position
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for the collapse of the talks. Naqvi said the negotiating teams had made substantial progress but accused the KP chief minister of changing his position on the final agreement. Dawn
Naqvi said the KP government had previously agreed to a written implementation plan covering security and counterterrorism measures. He also maintained that cooperation with the federal government on the National Action Plan was among the key issues under discussion. Pakistan Today
The interior minister later met KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as concerns grew over the security and political situation in the province.
Government representatives, including PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, also maintained that the provincial government failed to support the proposed anti-extremism framework.
PTI’s response
PTI leaders rejected the government’s account and said the federal administration was attempting to impose decisions on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without sufficient consultation.
Sohail Afridi, while addressing supporters during the march, said his government would not accept policies that it believed were against the interests of the people of KP and Pashtuns. He also said decisions concerning the province should be taken within the province. Business Recorder
PTI has described the march as a peaceful political protest and linked it to demands concerning Imran Khan, political rights and the province’s security policy.
PTI’s march moves towards Islamabad
The march began at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Sunday, with Afridi leading the convoy towards Islamabad. PTI said the march would make several stops, with further plans expected to be announced as the convoy progresses. The Print
The convoy subsequently reached Karak, with participants continuing their journey towards Kohat and other locations.
The latest development has increased political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led KP administration. Reuters reported that thousands of PTI supporters had joined the march, while the government had increased security around Islamabad and warned against violations of court orders governing protests. Reuters
With negotiations currently stalled, attention is now focused on the progress of the PTI march and whether the government and opposition will return to the negotiating table.
PTI MNA Ali Muhammad Khan has already called for dialogue to resume, urging both sides to return to negotiations. arynews.tv
Note: Claims about who was responsible for the collapse of the talks remain disputed. The government and PTI have presented different accounts of the negotiations, so these allegations should be attributed rather than presented as established facts.
