PTI accepts government offer of talks ahead of October 4 long march
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan says the party has accepted the government's offer of talks, with both sides due to meet at 12pm on Friday in the National Assembly speaker's office, while the October 4 long march still goes ahead.
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Thursday that his party had accepted the government’s offer of talks ahead of its planned long march on October 4, Geo News reported.
Gohar said the government’s message regarding the meeting had been received on Friday and was accepted after an opposition leaders’ meeting earlier in the day. Representatives of the government and the opposition are to meet at 12pm on Friday in the office of the National Assembly speaker.
PTI had postponed its long march towards the federal capital from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party says the protest seeks the release of its jailed founding chairman Imran Khan and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
The opposition alliance has also agreed to proceed with the October 4 long march alongside the talks, opposition leaders said after the meeting at Parliament House attended by Gohar, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Aaj English reported.
Gohar warned that imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would worsen the situation, increase tensions and create further divisions. “I tell everyone, for God’s sake, come to their senses and avoid such measures,” he said.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai said he would not meet the prime minister or the National Assembly speaker in their official offices, saying he would meet anywhere else in Pakistan, including at a party leader’s residence.
Read next: PTI long march coverage
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