Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday renewed his offer for talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), setting the condition that the party must first call off its ongoing long march towards Islamabad. Speaking at an event in the capital, the prime minister cautioned that the politics of sit-ins and long marches would primarily harm the country’s economy.
“Unfortunately, the shadows of dharnas and long marches have once again emerged,” he remarked, noting that the ruling coalition had collectively agreed to engage in dialogue with PTI to persuade the party to abandon such protest tactics. “I urge you to come to your senses, end the long march and sit-in, and then we will sit with you,” PM Shehbaz emphasized.
The prime minister’s comments came as the PTI-led long march, headed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Kohat in KP province. The march began on October 4 after negotiations between the government and opposition to prevent the protest failed. The PTI, founded by Imran Khan and currently governing KP, had participated in three rounds of talks with government and PPP representatives. However, these discussions collapsed on Sunday morning, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown.
Earlier, the PTI had postponed the protest from September 27 to October 4, while government officials repeatedly warned that the march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also warned that ongoing protests could disrupt exports, imports, and manufacturing activities, potentially undermining the country’s development and prosperity efforts. “If workers and engineers do not reach factories and offices on time, the loss will be Pakistan’s,” he said.
The premier highlighted that the government had worked diligently over two and a half years to stabilize the economy, attributing these efforts to the aspirations of the nation and the voice of every Pakistani.
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