PTI, Government Held Over Half-a-Dozen Backchannel Meetings: Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist and columnist Ansar Abbasi has reported that more than half-a-dozen backchannel meetings and contacts have taken place between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and authorities over the past four to five weeks, but the discussions have so far failed to break the political deadlock.

According to sources cited by Abbasi, the contacts were not limited to the date of the proposed PTI march but also focused on finding a possible political way out of the confrontation between the two sides.

The sources said the key issue in the discussions was whether the PTI would call off, rather than merely postpone, its planned mobilisation towards Islamabad. They said political space and facilitation on certain issues could be considered if the party gave assurances against prolonged sit-ins, road blockades, violence and confrontational protests.

تحریک انصاف آر یا پار!!https://t.co/7v21U0TlGK

— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) September 28, 2026

According to the report, possible areas of relief discussed in the contacts included greater access to Imran Khan, as well as flexibility regarding his treatment and potential hospitalisation. The possibility of shifting Bushra Bibi to Bani Gala and declaring the premises a sub-jail was also reportedly discussed, subject to conditions that such facilities would not be used for renewed political confrontation.

Abbasi reported that the discussions also touched upon the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI had expected greater administrative and police support for its planned mobilisation. The report said provincial lawmakers and ministers had also faced pressure amid the developing situation.

The PTI subsequently changed the date of its planned Islamabad march from September 27 to October 4, but according to sources cited by Abbasi, the change of date did not resolve the underlying disagreement between the party and the authorities.

The reported backchannel contacts have not produced a final agreement, with the distinction between postponing and calling off the proposed mobilisation remaining a major point of disagreement.