The opposition on Monday announced that the option of dialogue with the government is subject to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) being permitted to take out a peaceful 'Azadi March' on October 27.

The opposition put the condition before the government after a meeting of its Rahbar Committee at the residence of Akram Durrani in Islamabad.

After the meeting, Durrani told a press conference that while the opposition's demand for resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan is still intact, the joint opposition is open for a meeting with the government's committee. He, however, said that for dialogue to take place, the government would have to allow a peaceful 'Azadi March' to take place.

He claimed that the government's committee was not serious about holding a dialogue. The prime minister's statements are also showing non-seriousness, he added.

Durrani made it clear that there would be no compromise on the 'Azadi March' scheduled to be taken out on October 27. He also assured the government that the march will remain peaceful.

He further said that dialogue will not take place in the absence of even one member of the Rahbar Committee.

Durrani asked the government to not approach the opposition parties separately.

Representatives of nine opposition parties, including the PPP, the PML-N and the Awami National Party and others participated in the meeting.

The opposition announced the decision hours after the federal cabinet approved a summary seeking a ban on the “militant wing” of the JUI-F.

According to sources in the cabinet secretariat, the summary moved by the interior ministry was approved through circulation just a day ahead of a cabinet meeting. The government took the measure to avoid a discussion on the matter in the cabinet, the sources added.