Shehbaz Sharif Invites Imran Khan’s PTI For Talks As Long March Heads Towards Islamabad

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday renewed his offer of talks to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but urged it to call off its long march towards Islamabad, as the party’s convoy led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi continued towards Khairabad. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi warned that the protesters would not be allowed to move beyond Attock in Punjab, while raising security concerns over the march.

The PTI launched the march from Lakki Marwat on Sunday after two rounds of talks with the federal government failed. The protest seeks the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who has remained behind bars since August 2023. The negotiations remained deadlocked over access to Khan and differences concerning the government's counterterrorism policy in KP.

Addressing an event in Islamabad, Sharif said the “dreadful shadows” of long marches had returned despite efforts by his government and its ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party, to resolve political differences through dialogue. He said the government was ready to resume talks if PTI ended its long march and sit-in. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry separately said fresh negotiations were conditional on PTI calling off its protests.

The PTI convoy spent Monday night in Kohat and was scheduled to resume its journey towards Peshawar on Tuesday. It is expected to leave Budh Bair on October 7 and spend the night near Charsadda Interchange before reaching Khairabad on October 8, where Afridi is expected to announce the next phase. He has urged supporters to prepare for a prolonged campaign.

Kundi questioned PTI’s ability to take the march beyond Attock and raised concerns about screening protesters for possible militant infiltration, saying KP was already facing militancy. He also said governor’s rule could be considered if circumstances left no alternative, although he described it as a last resort.

The march has already faced restrictions, including Section 144 in parts of KP. Former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy earlier turned back from Yarik because of road blockades and security concerns. PTI has also alleged that more than 100 workers were detained in Sindh, including over 75 in Karachi.

Sharif warned that prolonged protests could hurt Pakistan’s economic recovery, saying the country had achieved macroeconomic stability and should now focus on growth. Meanwhile, US Congressman Ro Khanna backed Pakistani-American protesters calling for peaceful demonstrations and the release of political prisoners, including Khan.