After hours of negotiations, second round of govt-opposition talks ends in a 'deadlock'

ISLAMABAD: Hours-long negotiations between the government and the opposition during a second round of talks ended in a “deadlock” early on Sunday. The meeting at Parliament House began after 4pm on Saturday, with discussions focusing on the PTI’s planned Oct 4 march to Islamabad. Details on the negotiating process were sparse as both sides seemingly agreed not to speak to the media before matters concluded. However, shortly before 3am on Sunday, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, who was part of the opposition delegation, told the media that the talks had not succeeded in a breakthrough. “Deadlock,” he told reporters waiting at Parliament House in footage aired on Geo News . Asked what the points of contention were, he said they were “small things”. He added that the “issue” of meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan could not be solved.

He went on to say that the deadlock was over Imran’s meeting with his personal physicians, and how to address terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that talks had now ended, adding that a detailed press conference would be held later. Separately, PPP’s Sherry Rehman, who also participated in the talks, said the government delegation debated all points with the opposition. “Unfortunately, the draft [agreement] was changed four times after it was agreed upon,” she told Geo News , adding that she would not go into the details. Speaking to reporters, PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that the party’s long march was “intact” and would go ahead. At the same time, he asserted that imposing an emergency or governor rule was not the answer to the protest. He further said that the participants had also not reached an agreement on when the next round of talks would take place. He said that the opposition’s demands…