Pakistan government and opposition hold talks over PTI protest

The Pakistani government and opposition leaders have intensified contacts to address a growing political crisis and a planned protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) scheduled for September 27.

Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas met with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss the situation. During the meeting, Naqvi suggested that a meeting between the opposition and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could potentially provide relief for PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. The Interior Minister also urged the PTI to cancel its planned long march, emphasizing that the government would strictly enforce the law to prevent the country from being brought to a standstill.

Raja Nasir Abbas has offered to enter negotiations, calling on the Prime Minister to form an empowered team to find a political solution. While Abbas expressed a willingness to talk, he maintained that only Imran Khan can decide whether to postpone the scheduled protest. He also criticized the arrest of National Assembly members, questioning why the Speaker did not intervene to prevent such actions.