PTI Dismisses Shehbaz Sharif's Talks Offer as 'Mere Offer' Amid Long March Standoff
PTI Dismisses Shehbaz Sharif’s Talks Offer as ‘Mere Offer’ Amid Long March Standoff
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday dismissed the Shehbaz Sharif talks offer as a “mere offer”, telling the government to contact the opposition leadership directly if it was serious about negotiations.
The rejection came hours after the prime minister, speaking at the groundbreaking of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, renewed his call for dialogue on the condition that PTI ends its long march and sit-ins.
“This proposal of dialogue and talks is only at the level of a mere offer and no positive steps are being taken for this purpose by the government,” PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said, speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after being denied permission to meet party founder Imran Khan.
Gohar decries ‘inhumane’ treatment of Imran
Gohar said the party had not met Imran for almost a year, the last meeting being on October 16, 2025. He called the denial “inhumane treatment”, saying Imran’s doctors, family, workers and lawyers were all being kept from him.
He said Imran’s wife, nephew and three sisters were in jail, and condemned the arrest of Imran’s cousin Qasim Zaman, picked up outside Adiala Jail earlier in the day.
“Our MPAs, MNAs and ministers have been picked up, and this practice of picking people and detaining them should now stop forever,” Gohar said.
Inside the Shehbaz Sharif talks offer
Earlier in the day, the prime minister had told the groundbreaking ceremony: “End your long march. If you end it, then we will certainly sit with you and talk, so that Pakistan moves forward.”
Shehbaz said the government had held two days of talks with the opposition in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and that there had been every hope of a settlement. “But unfortunately, that did not happen,” he said, accusing PTI of demanding last-minute changes to sink the talks.
The prime minister warned that sit-in and long-march politics would damage the economy after a year and a half of stabilisation, citing rises in September exports, IT exports, remittances and production. “Protecting people’s lives is our duty and we will ensure it,” he said.
Raja names PTI’s authorised negotiators
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, speaking outside the Islamabad High Court, said the government could contact the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
“Imran has given complete authority to Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate and make an agreement on his behalf,” Raja said, adding the long march would continue until matters were “resolved”.
Why the earlier talks collapsed
The two sides began negotiations on Friday over the planned October 4 long march, and held a second round on Saturday under Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, initially agreeing a five-point framework on legal facilities for Imran and his wife, early case hearings, and meetings with lawyers and family.
The talks deadlocked over counter-terrorism operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and ended without agreement early on Sunday. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed the K-P government for backing away from commitments; PTI cited access to Imran and disagreement over the operations as the main obstacles.
The long march, led by K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Kohat on Tuesday via Lakki Marwat and Karak. It set off for Islamabad on Sunday to demand Imran’s release and heads for Peshawar next.
Frequently asked questions
Why did PTI reject the offer?
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan called it a “mere offer”, saying the government had taken no positive steps towards dialogue. He pointed to the denial of meetings with Imran Khan for nearly a year and the arrests of party leaders and Imran’s family members.
Who is authorised to negotiate for PTI?
According to Salman Akram Raja, Imran Khan has given complete negotiating authority to Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
