Pakistan Government and PTI Negotiate to Avert Long March

The Government of Pakistan and opposition leaders, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), concluded a first round of negotiations in Islamabad on October 2, 2026. Chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the talks sought to resolve a political deadlock and prevent a PTI-led long march scheduled for October 4.

Opposition leaders, led by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, demanded the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his sisters, as well as medical access for Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. They further conditioned progress on a meeting with Khan to finalize the agenda. Government representatives, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Rana Sanaullah, maintained that legal cases against Khan remain under the jurisdiction of the courts.

Simultaneously, the government emphasized security concerns, urging the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to assist in counter-terrorism efforts. Rana Sanaullah warned that the planned march could be a violation and suggested the possibility of imposing governor's rule or emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if cooperation fails. To secure the capital, authorities blocked key routes into Islamabad's Red Zone using over 2,500 shipping containers, disrupting regional freight movement.

Despite the dialogue, opposition leaders stated that no breakthrough was reached and denied that the October 4 march would be postponed. A second round of negotiations is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.