Govt-Opposition Talks Turn Heated as Rana Sanaullah, Raja Nasir Abbas Exchange Harsh Remarks

Islamabad: Negotiations between the government and opposition over the prevailing political situation turned tense on Friday, with Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas exchanging heated remarks during the meeting at National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s chamber.

The talks are focused on the overall political situation, developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned October 4 long march.

The opposition delegation includes Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Aamir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh, while the government side includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Rana Sanaullah and other federal and PPP representatives.

According to sources cited in the report, the government maintained during the talks that it would not allow an attempt to enter Islamabad by force. It also urged the opposition to show flexibility and said that threats of a long march or an attack on Adiala could not be accepted.

The meeting reportedly became tense several times. During a discussion on judicial matters, Raja Nasir Abbas expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of full implementation of court decisions and raised concerns over restrictions on meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan.

Rana Sanaullah responded that the courts were performing their functions and said judicial decisions relating to the long march would be implemented.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq urged both sides to proceed through understanding and dialogue and advised the participants to demonstrate restraint.

Earlier, opposition leaders had stressed that a meeting with Imran Khan was important for determining their negotiating position. Dawn reported that talks were being held with a meeting with Khan among the opposition’s main demands.

The government has been seeking the postponement or cancellation of the October 4 protest, while the opposition has linked the future of the protest to the outcome of the dialogue.