Key takeaways
The federal government and PTI delegations began a second round of talks at Parliament House on Saturday, chaired by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The dialogue comes less than 24 hours before PTI’s planned Oct 4 long march to Islamabad.
Illustration: WHAT TODAY?
Government and opposition negotiators returned to the table in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon for a second round of talks aimed at defusing Pakistan’s political standoff — this time with less than a day to go before the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned long march to the capital. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq chaired the session in his chamber at Parliament House, and said he hoped it would proceed in the same “cordial atmosphere” as Friday’s opening round.
What each side wants
The core positions have been clear since Friday, when the two sides met formally for the first time in almost three years. Sources on both sides told Dawn that the PTI is demanding its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, be shifted from jail to a hospital for medical treatment. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja told reporters the party wants him moved to Shifa International Hospital in line with court orders, and added there could be no compromise on Khan’s health.
The government, for its part, wants the opposition to call off the Oct 4 protest march. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari — whose party is part of the talks process — publicly pressed the PTI to cancel the march so the country could unite against terrorism and threats from neighbouring countries, while backing the idea of shifting Khan to hospital care.
The delegations
The government team includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam, Ministers Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Tallal Chaudhry, and PM’s adviser Rana Sanaullah, alongside PPP’s Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Ejaz Jakhrani. Facing them are Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
Speaking to journalists before the session, Muqam struck an optimistic note: “We are negotiating in good faith; let us see what the result will be.” The PTI side proposed standard operating procedures for the talks — no media statements while negotiations continue, and a joint statement afterwards to avoid confusion.
The march and the emergency warning
The shadow over the room is the march itself. PTI first announced a long march on Sept 27, then rescheduled it to Oct 4. On Saturday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said an “ocean of people” would set out from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm on Sunday, and vowed there would be no repeat of May 9, 2023.
Ministers have warned that the Centre could be forced to impose governor’s rule or an emergency in KP, and on Friday the army’s top brass warned that any “May 9-like situation” would be met with “decisive force”. According to Geo News, PTI’s own committees have floated quitting the assemblies if an emergency is imposed — but also suggested the march could be postponed rather than called off if the talks show progress.
What’s next
With the march due to begin on Sunday afternoon, tonight’s session is the decisive one. Interior Minister Naqvi and Sanaullah briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by phone during the day, and the opposition is consulting Achakzai of the TTAP alliance, who skipped Friday’s round over the venue and is expected to meet the prime minister separately in the coming days.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as the talks progress.
Sources
- “Govt, opposition begin second round of talks ahead of PTI’s Islamabad march” — Dawn, Oct 3, 2026
- “Govt-PTI second round of talks begins amid deadlock over Oct 4 Islamabad march” — Geo News, Oct 3, 2026
- “Govt, PTI kick off second round of talks ahead of Oct 4 long march” — The Express Tribune, Oct 3, 2026
- “Govt, PTI exchange demands as talks open” — Dawn, Oct 3, 2026
