ISLAMABAD: The second round of talks between the government, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was held on Saturday under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, as both sides tried to find a way out of the political standoff ahead of the opposition’s planned long march.
According to a statement issued by the National Assembly, the Speaker said Friday’s first session had been held in a “very cordial atmosphere” and expressed hope that the dialogue would continue in the same spirit. Federal ministers Engineer Amir Muqam and Syed Mushtaq Raza Naqvi, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah represented the government, while the PPP was represented by Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani. The opposition delegation included Barrister Gohar Khan, Asad Qaiser, Raja Nasir Abbas, Amir Dogar, Haleem Adil Sheikh and Salman Akram Raja.
The PTI has been pressing its demands, including shifting party founder Imran Khan to a hospital, and is preparing to begin its long march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 4, with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expected to lead it. The government wants the march called off.
PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai later welcomed reports of progress in the negotiations, calling dialogue the best way to resolve political differences. Whether the talks produce a breakthrough — or the march goes ahead as planned — is expected to become clear within hours.