Govt-PTI talks begin at NA speaker's chamber ahead of Oct 4 long march

· Geo News
PTI and government delegations hold talks at the National Assembly speaker's chamber in Islamabad, October 2, 2026. — Reporter
  • PTI chief Barrister Gohar, Senate opposition leader attend talks.
  • Interior minister , PM's aide Rana Sanaullah among participants.
  • Achakzai refuses to attend meeting at NA speaker's chamber.

ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began on Friday at the National Assembly speaker's chamber, ahead of the Imran Khan-founded party's long march towards Islamabad, scheduled for October 4.

The six-member opposition delegation includes PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.

The government delegation includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PM's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Sherry Rehman and others.

During the meeting, the interior minister presented a briefing on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI reconstituted its delegation for the meeting after Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai refused to attend the meeting at the NA speaker's chamber, saying he would attend the talks if they were held at a neutral location.

Sources said that PTI leadership rejected TTAF chief's demand and formed a new delegation for talks.

Barrister Gohar said earlier that the PTI's political and core committees had approved the names of the opposition delegation.

The opposition delegation would comprise six members for negotiations with the government, he added.

The development emerges a day after the PTI chief said his party had accepted the government's offer for talks ahead of its proposed long march on October 4.

In a statement, Gohar said the government's message regarding the meeting had been received on Wednesday and was accepted in light of decisions taken during an opposition leaders' meeting earlier in the day.

The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march towards the federal capital from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party has said the protest is aimed at seeking the release of its jailed founding chairman Imran Khan and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.