Deadlock persists as hours-long govt, PTI talks end without breakthrough

Achakzai refuses to back down on long march, says it won’t be called off without meeting PTI founder

The second round of talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continued past Saturday midnight after hours of negotiations but failed to achieve a breakthrough, with a deadlock persisting between the two sides.

The negotiators from both sides left the meeting room after 2am in the early hours of Sunday.

Speaking to Express News, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser confirmed that there still existed a deadlock.

"We informed the government of our differences regarding the meeting with the founding chairman, the release of the sisters and other demands. We have apprised the government of certain issues; our primary demand is a meeting with Imran Khan. There are issues concerning our elderly women and other matters," he said.

Qaiser said the PTI side stipulated that a meeting with Imran must take place first and only then would it proceed further.

"We hold a very clear stance on the issue of terrorism; we want peace in our province."

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas told the media there was a deadlock on "small issues". He said the issue of the meeting with Imran could not be resolved.

ڈیڈ لاک برقرار ہے۔ مجموعی صورتحال یہ رہی کہ عمران خان صاحب سے ہماری ملاقات کے حوالے سے انہوں نے کہا کہ ابھی نہیں ہو سکتی ۔

لیکن خیبر پختونخوا میں آپریشن کے حوالے سے مسائل اور اس میں صوبے اور وفاق کے کردار پر کوئی اتفاق نہیں ہو سکا۔

ذاتی ڈاکٹرز کے معاملے پر بھی ہم کسی نتیجے… pic.twitter.com/c37SODHGPw

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) October 3, 2026

صوبہ میں دہشتگردی کے حوالہ سے صوبہ اور وفاق کے رول سے متعلق کوئی understanding نہیں ہو سکی،عمران خان سے ملاقات کا معاملہ حل نہیں ہوسکا، ہماری کوشش تھی کسی نتیجے پر پہنچ سکیں لیکن ڈیڈ لاک برقرار ہے، خان صاحب کے ذاتی معالج تک رسائی کے معاملے پر ڈیڈ لاک ہے،

قائد حزب اختلاف سینٹ… pic.twitter.com/4tXLVjVXaT

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) October 3, 2026

However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said: "Look, we don't have a consensus on foundational issues," adding that he could not say that he foresaw both sides moving forward on a mutually acceptable plan of action. 

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said the long march would go ahead and was "intact". He said the party's demands should be addressed and said governor rule or an emergency were not the answers to the long march.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said they had performed their constitutional and democratic role. 

"We constantly talked with them on every point, whatever their concerns were were heard and debated and shared with our leadership. The agreement draft was changed four times."

She said it was the PPP's stance that, given the terrorism situation, there could be no compromise, and that it was "not a small matter". 

Rehman added that agreement was achieved on many points but disagreements remained on some. 

"They have refused to do an agreement," she said.

Prime Minister's aide Rana Sanaullah said the basic issue related to K-P's security situation, with the federal government demanding that the provincial government fulfil its responsibilities in this regard and play its role.

He said there was no reassurance from the other side about this. "They made changes in the drafts two to three times, but despite that, the K-P government is not ready to cooperate to play its role in the war against terrorism and this is absolutely unacceptable. That is why the agreement could not be achieved."

Sanaullah said the government had provided various reassurances to the PTI regarding its demands about Imran. He added that the long march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad. 

K-P CM lays out long march plan

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi laid out the schedule for the long march from his province in a post on X at 12:46am.

انشأللہ آج گنڈی چوک لکی مروت سے ہم لانگ مارچ کا پہلا مرحلہ شروع کریں گے-

آج بروز اتوار، 4 اکتوبر، دوپہر ایک بجے گنڈی چوک لکی مروت سے ٹانک، ڈیرہ اسماعیل خان، ساؤتھ وزیرستان، نارتھ وزیرستان، بنوں اور لکی مروت کے اضلاع سے تعلق رکھنے والے غیور پاکستانی لانگ مارچ کا حصہ بنیں گے۔ رات…

— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) October 3, 2026

According to a statement issued by the National Assembly on X, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Friday’s session had been held in a “very cordial atmosphere” and expressed hope that all sides would continue the talks in the same spirit.

He also thanked members from the government, PPP and opposition for participating in the negotiations.

حکومت، پیپلز پارٹی اور اپوزیشن کے درمیان مذکرات کا دوسرا دور شروع۔

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق اجلاس کی صدارت کر رہے ہیں۔

کل کا اجلاس بہت خوشگوار ماحول میں ہوا، اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی

آج بھی امید ہے کے تمام فریقین خوشگوار ماحول میں مذکرات کو آگے بڑھائیں گے، اسپیکر سردار… pic.twitter.com/QSKz1WB2gE

— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 3, 2026

Federal ministers Engineer Amir Muqam and Syed Mushtaq Raza Naqvi, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah are representing the government in the talks.

From the PPP, Senator Sherry Rehman and National Assembly members Naveed Qamar and Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani are participating.

The opposition delegation comprises National Assembly members Barrister Gohar Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Amir Dogar, Asad Qaiser and Haleem Adil Sheikh, along with Salman Akram Raja.

Achakzai refuses to back down on Oct 4 long march

Meanwhile, TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai refused to withdraw his demand, saying the long march would not be called off until a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan took place.

Speaking to a private television channel, he demanded that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi be allowed to meet the PTI founder, while also giving an assurance that the chief minister would not speak to the media after the meeting.

He said a decision to call off the long march, scheduled for Oct 4, could be taken after consultation with the PTI founder, adding that whatever joint decision was reached after the meeting would be accepted.

Earlier in the evening, amid reports of successful government-opposition negotiations, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai welcomed the development as a positive step for the country.

Yousafzai said the success of the talks should not be viewed as a victory or defeat for any particular side, but rather as a victory for Pakistan. He noted that he had previously made the same position clear through a letter, emphasising that negotiations were the best way to resolve political differences.

Addressing the issue of terrorism, Yousafzai called on the federal government to support the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in efforts to eliminate terrorism and improve security in the province.

He also said that the imposition of Governor’s Rule would have caused significant damage and expressed hope that the government would provide PTI with adequate political space.

Yousafzai further expressed the expectation that court decisions concerning PTI founder Imran Khan would be implemented in accordance with the law.

A day earlier, the first round of talks between the government and opposition concluded with the two sides deciding to meet again on Saturday (today) in the NA speaker’s chamber. The negotiations come amid continued tensions after PTI announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 27 that was rescheduled to October 4. Currently, the standoff between the federal and provincial governments remains unresolved.

The speaker, in a statement, said the previous day’s session was held in a “very cordial atmosphere” and expressed hope that all sides would continue the dialogue in the same spirit.

Sadiq also thanked members of the government, PPP and opposition for participating in the talks.

حکومت، پیپلز پارٹی اور اپوزیشن کے درمیان مذکرات کا دوسرا دور شروع۔

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق اجلاس کی صدارت کر رہے ہیں۔

کل کا اجلاس بہت خوشگوار ماحول میں ہوا، اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی

آج بھی امید ہے کے تمام فریقین خوشگوار ماحول میں مذکرات کو آگے بڑھائیں گے، اسپیکر سردار… pic.twitter.com/RjRpcdDhc1

— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 3, 2026

As per the statement, Federal Ministers Engineer Ameer Muqam, Mohsin Naqvi and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah are representing the government during the meeting. Furthermore, the PPP delegation comprises Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani.

On the other hand, PTI is represented by Barrister Gohar Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Aamer Dogar, Asad Qaiser and Haleem Adil Sheikh, along with Salman Akram Raja, according to the NA’s statement.

The talks are being held as part of efforts by the government, PPP, and the opposition to engage in dialogue on matters of political importance.

Read: Govt, opposition conclude first round of talks ahead of PTI’s Oct 4 march

On Friday, the NA spokesperson revealed that detailed discussions were conducted on the country’s political situation, with the government, PPP, and opposition apprising each other of their respective positions. However, the first round of talks ended without a conclusive decision from either quarter. The parties also refrained from mudslinging in accordance with an agreement reached during the talks.

Defence Minister alleges PTI, KP govt supporting unrest

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif questioned whether the PTI and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government hired terrorists to spread sedition, riots and chaos under the guise of protests on October 4.

He made these remarks in connection with a video he shared on X alleging that PTI’s social media accounts shared footage showing non-custom-paid vehicles from Waziristan.

In a statement shared on social media, he further alleged that “unemployed young men” were paid and sent around the camps of police and security forces to spread unrest, adding that some of them might not even have identity cards.

“Now, if these ignorant fools attack any government institution tomorrow, just like it happened in the past, and the police or forces disperse them in self-defence, then will the narrative against the state be built from the ready social media accounts sitting there, just like before?” The defence minister posed a question.

He also asked why the cops were not checking the convoy to determine whether the people travelling in the vehicles were terrorists with covered faces or ordinary citizens, and whether the non-custom-paid vehicles were carrying weapons or explosive materials.

کیا پی ٹی آئی اور خیبر پختونخوا حکومت نے 4 اکتوبر کو احتجاج کی آڑ میں فتنہ فساد اور انتشار پھیلانے کیلئے دہشت گردوں کی خدمات حاصل کر لی
وزیرستان سے نان کسٹم پیڈ گاڑیوں کی یہ ویڈیو پارٹی کے سوشل میڈیا اکاونٹس سے شیئر کی جارہی ہیں جس میں ایک تو *بے روزگار کمر عمر نوجوانوں کو پیسے… pic.twitter.com/vJpadU0zbZ

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 3, 2026

Furthermore, he questioned who was providing the people travelling in the convoy with what he described as Rs10 million a day for the vehicles, food, drinks and other expenses, particularly in an area such as Waziristan where poverty and unemployment were prevalent.

“Isn't this the same smuggling money that is used for terrorism?” he concluded in his post.

Before the second round of talks with the government, PTI leader Asad Qaiser assailed the defence minister for his statement.

In a post on X shared by Qaiser, he said the tone and manner in which Khawaja Asif spoke in the tweet was "extremely inappropriate".

However, he reiterated the resolve to end the deadlock with the government.

ہم اپنی پولیٹیکل کمیٹی اور کور کمیٹی کو آن بورڈ رکھ رہے ہیں، ان کی مشاورت کے مطابق مذاکرات ہو رہے ہیں۔ خواجہ آصف کا بیان آپ نے دیکھا ہے، انہوں نے جس لب و لہجے میں بات کی ہے، وہ انتہائی نامناسب ہے۔ دیکھیں، مذاکرات کے دوران اَپس اینڈ ڈاؤنز آتے ہیں، ہمارا اپنا اور ان کا اپنا مؤقف… pic.twitter.com/UaoQ81pbxF

— Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) October 3, 2026

"There are ups and downs during negotiations; we have our own position, and they have theirs. We want meaningful negotiations and for matters to be resolved peacefully," he responded to a question regarding the way forward for peace.

He further highlighted that the PTI delegation had kept the political committee and core committee on board for the ongoing consultation with the ruling coalition.