Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has warned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad, while leaving the door open for further negotiations with the opposition.
His remarks came after government-opposition talks ended without an agreement. The two sides remained divided over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s alleged refusal to provide assurances of cooperation with the federal government in the fight against terrorism.
Sanaullah said the long march would not be allowed to enter the limits of Islamabad and warned that any attempt to create disorder would be dealt with according to the law.
He said the government had amended the draft agreement several times during negotiations, but differences remained over the KP government’s role in counterterrorism operations. According to Sanaullah, cooperation against terrorism was a constitutional and legal responsibility of the provincial government.
The government adviser maintained that the issue was not negotiable and said the refusal to cooperate against terrorism was unacceptable. He said this disagreement was the main reason the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
Sanaullah, however, said the government remained willing to resume negotiations if the PTI and KP government were prepared to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. He said the opposition could return to the negotiating table at any time if it was ready to address the issue.
No date has been fixed for another round of talks. Sanaullah said the government would consider different options depending on the situation and after consulting relevant stakeholders.
The adviser also said the talks had covered PTI founder Imran Khan’s meetings with party representatives and matters related to his medical treatment. He described these issues as less significant than the counterterrorism dispute and said such matters would continue to be handled according to the law and prison rules.
Sanaullah’s comments came shortly after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the first phase of the PTI long march towards Islamabad. The march is scheduled to begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm, with participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat expected to join the convoy.
According to the announced route, the convoy will spend Sunday night near Karak before continuing towards Kohat, Peshawar and Charsadda. PTI supporters from different parts of KP are expected to gather at Khairabad on October 8, where the party plans to announce the next phase of its movement.
Afridi has described the march as a peaceful political protest aimed at demanding the supremacy of the Constitution and law and the restoration of an independent judiciary.
The latest negotiations were chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and included representatives from the government, PPP and opposition. Despite several hours of discussions, the two sides failed to reach a settlement.
The breakdown has increased political tensions ahead of the PTI’s planned movement towards Islamabad. However, both sides have indicated that dialogue remains possible, leaving the possibility of another round of negotiations open.
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