Shehbaz govt, Imran Khan’s PTI hold talks as Pakistan braces for protests

Pakistan’s federal government and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed to hold a second round of talks on Saturday, as the opposition party prepares for a long march towards Islamabad from October 4.The first round of negotiations was held on Friday in the chamber of national assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who is facilitating the dialogue amid heightened security in the capital.According to a statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, the participants held detailed discussions “on the prevailing political situation and exchanged views on various matters of national importance”.“The government, PPP and opposition representatives apprised each other of their respective positions and held a detailed exchange of views constructively and cordially. The participants emphasised the need to resolve national issues through dialogue and negotiations,” it said, according to news agency PTI.The second round will be held at 2 pm on Saturday in the speaker’s chamber.Sadiq said he was “only playing the role of a mediator”, adding that his office was “always open” to resolving issues through negotiations.“Parliament is the only forum where solutions to issues can be found,” he said, stressing that negotiations were the way to address political differences.PTI international spokesman Zulfiqar Bukhari said the talks were “primarily aimed at defusing the current political situation surrounding PTI’s planned march/protest toward Islamabad on October 4”.Bukhari said the party’s demands included an “immediate” meeting with Khan and a decision to take him to hospital so his personal doctors could examine him. PTI has also sought the release of Khan’s sisters and others arrested ahead of the protest, a medical check-up for his wife Bushra Bibi and proper hearings in their cases.Meanwhile, the Pakistan authorities have deployed additional police and placed shipping containers on routes into Islamabad. The blockades have already disrupted freight movement.Bukhari said the long march would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, with stops planned in Karak and Kohat on October 5 before entering Peshawar district.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.