ISLAMABAD — The Government of Pakistan has ruled out any possibility of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march entering the federal capital, with a senior political adviser declaring that authorities will not permit the opposition’s planned protest to reach Islamabad’s limits.
Government Takes Hard Line on March
Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, told reporters after talks at Parliament House that the proposed PTI long march would be stopped from entering the city. His remarks came as negotiations between the government and the opposition appeared to stall over several key issues.
The adviser said the talks were primarily focused on the law and order and terrorism situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province where PTI holds power. According to Sanaullah, the government had demanded that the provincial government play an effective role in combating terrorism, but the opposition was unwilling to cooperate on the issue.
Talks Fail to Yield Agreement
Sanaullah acknowledged that the government had shown flexibility regarding meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan, but the two sides could not reach an agreement on other major points. He noted that the unresolved issues were already known to the public, without elaborating further.
Despite the deadlock, the adviser indicated that the door to future negotiations could remain open if the opposition agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
Opposition Under Pressure
The government’s firm stance signals a continued hardening of its position toward PTI’s protest plans. The long march, a signature tactic of the opposition party, has been positioned as a show of strength, but authorities have made clear they will not allow it to reach the capital.
The outcome of the talks leaves the political situation unresolved, with both sides holding firm to their positions and no clear path forward for negotiations at this stage.
