The first round of talks between the PTI-led opposition and the ruling coalition over the party’s proposed Oct 4 long march concluded on Friday, with both sides agreeing to resume the dialogue on Saturday.

The meeting between government and opposition representatives was held to defuse the current political crisis in the country, with the PTI’s planned Oct 4 protest march to demand party founder Imran Khan’s release becoming the new bone of contention between the party and the Centre.

As the PTI remains resolute to go ahead with the march, federal ministers have warned that the Centre would have no other option but to impose the governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in light of the security situation in the province and the PTI’s protest call.

For its part, the opposition party has warned the government of dire consequences if such a decision is imposed.

In a post on X, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Aain Pakistan (TTAP) said negotiations with the government’s committee were underway, with the opposition led by the leader of the opposition in the Senate.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Adviser to the PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman and PPP MNAs Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani are expected to participate from the coalition’s side.

From the opposition’s side, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, TTAP spokesperson Akhundzada Yousafzai, Senate opposition leader Abbas and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Haleem Adil Sheikh are among those attending.

A day earlier, it emerged that a joint delegation of the PPP and the government would hold a meeting with the PTI leadership on Friday, during which the “current political situation” in the country would be discussed with the opposition.

The decision came after a meeting at the presidency attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and other party leaders.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also said on Thursday that the federal government and PTI were engaged in “off-the-record talks” regarding PTI’s planned protest.

Sanaullah said that the decision on the proposed march rested with PTI’s senior leadership, “with whom off-the-record consultation is ongoing”.

“So let us see, even if they do not postpone it, we have arrangements in place to stop them,” he warned.

More to follow.