ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting was held in Islamabad to discuss the government’s strategy regarding the upcoming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, ARY News reported, citing sources.
Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and other high-ranking officials attended the meeting.
Sources said the huddle reviewed administrative, legal, and political measures in connection with the planned PTI march.
Participants discussed keeping the option of negotiations open with the PTI leadership, similar to the approach taken with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
The meeting also reviewed administrative and security preparations to handle the march.
Additionally, the potential closure of mobile and internet services came under discussion, including a request from the Punjab government for internet suspension in view of the protest march.
However, the participants agreed not to suspend mobile and internet services immediately, observing that an early shutdown would cause severe difficulties for the public.
Consequently, the meeting directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to refrain from taking any action regarding service suspensions until explicit orders are issued by the Ministry of Interior.
Sources added that the government has decided to conduct regular review meetings to continually monitor the country’s law and order situation.
Earlier, PTI leadership has proposed postponing the long march, with the majority of members suggesting October 5 to 10 as the new timeframe.
The proposal was discussed during a PTI leadership meeting in Peshawar, where participants also expressed serious reservations over the roles of Mahmood Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas.
The meeting discussed the government’s decision to block roads, with participants describing it as a sign of panic. The closure of routes and Islamabad was also termed a success of the movement.
The participants were informed that the party leadership was in contact with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Regarding the PPP, the meeting was told that the party was not openly discussing the matter yet and was waiting for its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to return to Pakistan.
A proposal was also made to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) between October 6 and 10.
The meeting also reviewed the performance of the party’s Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan chapters and discussed the possible transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to a hospital and concessions for Bushra Bibi.
The participants proposed speeding up contacts with all opposition parties.
