ISLAMABAD: On Monday night, scattered groups of protesters began arriving at the outskirts of the capital, coinciding with reports that the government and PTI had initiated back-channel negotiations.
In a late-night press conference, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi appeared to confirm the dialogue, revealing that the government had proposed Sangjani, on the fringes of Islamabad, as a designated venue for the PTI protest.
PTI leaders met with party chairman Imran Khan for the second time that evening at a specially arranged meeting, during which they reportedly presented the government’s proposal to the imprisoned party leader. However, the outcome of the discussions remained unclear, as the PTI delegation left without addressing the media. Minister Naqvi urged reporters pressing for details to wait for an official response from PTI.
Earlier in the day, sources suggested that both sides had engaged in preliminary talks to identify a suitable protest venue in Islamabad that would not disrupt public order. While neither the government nor PTI officially confirmed these discussions, Minister Naqvi hinted at progress, stating the government was awaiting PTI’s response.
In his final media appearance of the night, Naqvi claimed, “As per my information, they have secured permission from there [Imran Khan] as well,” but reiterated that a formal reply from PTI was still pending.
Earlier on Monday, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan met Imran Khan in prison for the first time. Following the meeting, he informed the media that the PTI chief had declined to withdraw his protest call. Meanwhile, late-night reports indicated that PTI leaders were trying to convince Bushra Bibi, leading the main protest caravan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad, to accept the government’s proposal to change the protest location.
