A joint team from the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will sit down with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Friday to discuss the current political situation, the President’s Office announced. The PTI government talks come just days before the party’s planned long march on October 4.
Zardari and Shehbaz Agree on Negotiating Team
The decision was made on Thursday when President Asif Ali Zardari met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the President House. The two leaders reviewed the country’s political and security landscape.
They voiced concern over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI holds power. They also stressed the need to strengthen the national resolve against terrorism and to improve coordination among the relevant institutions to maintain peace and stability.
Who Will Represent the Government and PPP
The federal government’s side of the PPP delegation and the wider negotiating team will include Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam.
The PPP will be represented by Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani.
PTI Accepts the Government’s Offer
The announcement followed a statement by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who said the party had accepted the government’s offer to talk. According to Gohar, the government’s message about the meeting reached the PTI on Wednesday. The party responded after an opposition leaders’ meeting held the same day.
He said representatives from the government and the opposition would meet at noon on Friday in the office of the National Assembly speaker.
Background to the PTI Long March
The PTI had earlier moved its planned march on Islamabad from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party says the protest is meant to press for the release of its jailed founding chairman, Imran Khan, and for what it calls the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Gohar had previously said the party’s doors were open for negotiations and that it would welcome a government delegation. He argued that the focus should stay on preventing terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the PTI had always opposed politicising the issue.
He also warned that imposing governor’s rule in the province would make matters worse, raise tensions and deepen divisions. “I tell everyone, for God’s sake, come to their senses and avoid such measures,” he said.
Gohar maintained that the long march announcement was final, while the opposition continued its consultations on preparations and political strategy for the march.