PTI Rejects Government Talks as Long March Nears Islamabad
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rejected a government offer for negotiations, continuing its long march toward Islamabad to demand the release of founder Imran Khan.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected a proposal for renewed talks from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, characterizing the gesture as a mere offer lacking concrete action. The rejection comes as a PTI long march, led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reaches Kohat while heading toward Islamabad to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah renewed the federal government's offer for negotiations on October 7, but conditioned the talks on the party ending its long march and unconditionally supporting the state's counterterrorism policy. Sanaullah accused the PTI of using provincial resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to fuel instability and criticized the province's security failures. He confirmed that intelligence-based operations against terrorism will continue in the region, though no new military operation is planned.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan condemned the government's treatment of Imran Khan, stating that party leaders have been denied access to him for nearly a year. While the PTI has authorized negotiators to engage with the government, they demand that the state first grant access to Khan and release his sisters from prison. Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated the march will continue until these grievances are resolved, attributing previous deadlocks to government demands for provincial endorsement of unilateral counter-terrorism actions.
