PPP to join govt representatives as Shehbaz-Zardari meeting yields Friday talks with opposition

PPP to join govt representatives as Shehbaz-Zardari session yields Friday negotiations with opposition.

Key points

• News Desk Published October 1, 2026 Updated October 1, 2026 11: 32pm.
• The decision was taken after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-I-Sadr in Islamabad.
• Nevertheless, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and TTAP chairman has ruled out his participation at any gathering in the speaker's chamber.
• After the TTAP-PTI session, Achakzai stated he was not ready to hold parleys at the Prime Minister's House or Office or the Speaker's Chamber.
• Gohar additionally stressed that the party had "always stood with the state and the country", including during the May 2025 conflict with India.

News Desk Published October 1, 2026 Updated October 1, 2026 11: 32pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

In practice, a joint delegation of the PPP and the administration would hold a gathering with the PTI leadership on Friday, identical statements published by the PPP and the Presidency remarked.

In practice, the decision was taken after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-I-Sadr in Islamabad.

Notably, the statement remarked "current political situation" in the country would be discussed with the opposition on Friday, adding that President Zardari and PM Shehbaz review the national security situation and stressed the need for effective cooperation between relevant institutions for peace and stability in the country.

Meanwhile, the development comes as the PTI's planned Oct 4 march to Islamabad remains a source of contention between the opposition party and the Centre.

Meanwhile, a source informed Dawn that possibility of imposing emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – where the PTI is in power – was additionally discussed at the huddle at the Presidency, but it was agreed that the administration should first provide the opposition "a chance to settle issues through dialogue and in a peaceful manner".

Nevertheless, it was additionally agreed that if the opposition did not abandon its plan for the march, the "government will seriously think about imposing emergency in the KP".

According to PTI Chairperson Barrister Gohar Khan additionally, a gathering between opposition and administration representatives would be held on Friday.

"PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan received a message from the administration yesterday for a gathering. It he has accepted in light of the decisions created in today's opposition gathering. God willing, a session will take place between the opposition and administration delegations in the office of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq tomorrow at 12pm, " a post on Gohar's X account noted.

According to the PPP statement, 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 would participate in the session.

As well as Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar's participation, from the opposition's side, opposition alliance Tehreek-I-Tahaffuz Ayeen-I-Pakistan (TTAP) spokesperson Akhundzada Yousafzai additionally confirmed his.

In practice, a senior TTAP leader further informed Dawn that even Abbas was unwilling to visit the speaker's chamber for the gathering but had agreed to participate at the PTI's request.

Meanwhile, the opposition alliance's decision came after a session with PTI leaders in the Senate opposition leader's chamber.

Discussion at the session covered the overall political situation in the country, PTI's planned protest march and other constitutional and parliamentary matters, a statement by the TTAP stated.

Notably, the possibility of a session between administration and opposition representative is being seen as a means to defuse the current political crisis in the country, with the PTI's planned Oct 4 protest march to demand Imran'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 cautioned that the Centre would have no other option but to impose the governor's rule or emergency in KP in light of the security situation in the province and the PTI's protest call on Oct 4.

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

For context, the TTAP, which is headed by Achakzai and additionally includes the PTI, has confirmed that it would join the protest. 'Anywhere but not at PM Office, speaker's chamber'.

The prime minister is illegitimate. The mandate of millions of Pakistanis. Harsh words are rising to my lips; that is why I am silent.

"I am ready to sit anywhere in Pakistan, under any tree. I am ready to visit the house of any party. But I will not go to the speaker house, the Prime Minister's House or the prime minister's chamber, " he remarked while speaking to the media at Parliament House after the opposition leaders' gathering, standing alongside Gohar.

Achakzai's remarks were in response to a question regarding the prime minister's adviser, Rana Sanaullah, inviting him and PTI Chairperson Barrister Gohar to hold a sitting with the premier. The reporter asked him why the session was not taking place.

In a video clip shared by the opposition alliance Tehreek-I-Tahaffuz Ayeen-I-Pakistan (TTAP), Achakzai additionally stated the session with the prime minister would take place after a gathering with jailed former premier and PTI founder Imran Khan.

PM Shehbaz had extended an invitation to the NA opposition leader to sit together for consultations on the problems of national impor­tance and those related to the PTI before leaving for the US. Earlier, the premier additionally invited Achakzai on Sept 11 for mandatory consultation on the appointment of a new chief election commi­ssioner. Gohar's warning against imposition of emergency.

For his part, Barrister Gohar informed the media that PTI leaders had held a three-hour gathering with Abbas and Achakzai in which they had a detailed exchange of views on the challenges facing the country and the current situation, particularly in KP and regarding the march preparations.

As well as the detention and treatment of Imran's sisters in jail, he condemned the "state oppression and tyranny" inflicted on the PTI and its supporters.

Meanwhile, the PTI chairman asserted that attempts were produced to suppress his party "whenever we raise our voice for our rights and for justice in the country".

Gohar continued that the leaders had additionally discussed reports regarding the potential imposition of emergency and cautioned: "The federation becomes robust when the provinces are solid and autonomous, and when the people's mandate is respected. You will put the federation at risk if you take any action in a province that goes against the will of its individuals."

He reiterated that the PTI's march would remain peaceful, saying, "This is our country; for us, Pakistan comes first, the state of Pakistan and its peace and security."

According to The PTI chairman, the way to avoid a long march was not by the imposition of governor's rule or a state of emergency, but rather by talking to protesters, listening to the purpose for which they were out on the streets, and addressing their reservations.

"We went to the Supreme Court 19 times, but were not heard. We went to the high court 25 times but its orders were not implemented. A special committee was formed in Parliament, but a session was never called. Even today, the same reservations persist, " he stated.

Gohar stressed that despite all this, the party was ready for negotiations and had created their demands clear before everyone.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja additionally stressed that protesting was a constitutional and legal right, and the party would not back down from their protest.

"The leader of the long march is Sohail Afridi; Imran Khan has appointed him. We will backing him in every feasible way, " he continued. 'Opposition ready for dialogue but without conditions'.

Speaking to the media alongside Achakzai and Gohar after the session in his chamber, Senate Opposition Leader Abbas called on reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the country's political crisis, saying his side was ready for discussions, but without preconditions.

He additionally stressed that the PTI's protest would be peaceful even when met with violence, and that "no false narrative" should be created against the protest.

"I have said before as well that when we leave from there, there will be no weapons in our hands, " he remarked. "We know the value of human life."

For now, PPP to join govt representatives as Shehbaz-Zardari meeting yields Friday talks with remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.