ISLAMABAD: Pakistan lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat has described ongoing government-opposition talks as largely symbolic, claiming that both sides have already reached decisions and will later present the negotiations as a success.
Marwat said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would postpone its planned October 4 long march in return for assurances from the government regarding former prime minister Imran Khan’s medical treatment and meetings.
According to Marwat, the government would agree to facilitate Khan’s transfer to a hospital for treatment, although he said the name of the hospital would not be made public.
He said the negotiations could provide PTI with what he described as a “face-saving” way to postpone the march.
“Decisions have already been made two days ago,” Marwat said, according to his account of the negotiations. “Both sides will declare the talks successful.”
March Preparations Questioned
Marwat also questioned PTI’s preparations for the planned protest, saying the party had not made adequate arrangements for the march.
He said PTI had postponed the earlier protest schedule and moved the proposed march to October 4. In recent remarks, Marwat has repeatedly questioned whether the party would be able to hold the march on the revised date.
He claimed that after the march was postponed, the government could withdraw the concessions being discussed with PTI.
Marwat’s comments come amid negotiations between the government and opposition as PTI considers its next course of action over its political demands.
The claims regarding the outcome of the negotiations and any agreement on Khan’s hospital transfer were made by Marwat and were not independently confirmed in the available reports.
Meanwhile, the second round of talks between the government and opposition began on Friday amid tensions over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned October 4 long march on Islamabad. The negotiations are being held at the National Assembly Speaker’s chambers under Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
The first round reportedly witnessed several tense moments and heated exchanges between the two sides.
According to sources, the government delegation made it clear that it would not allow an attempt to enter Islamabad by force and formally urged the opposition to postpone or cancel the long march. The government also assured the opposition that court decisions would be implemented.
The government team reportedly argued that holding a long march, issuing threats and discussing an attack on Adiala Jail were inappropriate. It also stressed that flexibility in the negotiations would have to come from both sides.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq urged the government and opposition to move forward through mutual understanding.
Security Becomes Part of Talks
Sources said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi raised concerns about the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the start of the talks.
Naqvi also cited militant attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the law-and-order situation in the province, with the government side linking the security situation to the performance of the provincial administration.
The government has separately called on the KP government to play a role in countering terrorism, while PTI has rejected attempts to link the political negotiations with the security situation.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas rejected the government’s position, saying the opposition had come to discuss political issues rather than terrorism.
He questioned why terrorism was being brought into the negotiations and asked who was responsible for the arrests of members of parliament.
The talks come as the government seeks to persuade PTI to withdraw or postpone its October 4 march, while the opposition has said the outcome of the negotiations will influence its next course of action.
