ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cannot take place unless the party postpones its planned long march toward Islamabad.
Speaking on Geo News’ Geo Pakistan programme, Sanaullah said containers had been placed in Islamabad as a security measure, maintaining that they were positioned along roadsides and that roads remained open.
He said that back-channel contacts with the PTI leadership were still continuing, but formal negotiations could not move forward while the party maintained its call for the march. He added that, so far, there had been statements about the march but no indication of an actual mobilisation.
Sanaullah also said the government would not allow anyone to force their way into Islamabad, amid heightened security preparations ahead of the PTI’s planned September 27 protest. Authorities have increased security deployments and placed containers at several locations around the capital.
The PTI, meanwhile, has maintained its plan for the September 27 march, while some of its leaders have continued to call for political dialogue.
