PTI to proceed with Islamabad march after talks fail

Pakistan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said it would proceed with a planned march toward Islamabad on October 4 after two rounds of talks with the federal government ended without agreement. The negotiations centered on access to jailed party founder Imran Khan and the protest, which organizers had postponed from September 27. PTI sought an immediate meeting with Khan and his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine him. The government wanted the party to call off the march before considering access to him, according to accounts of the talks. The reasons for the deadlock were not independently established: government representatives also cited concerns about cooperation between the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the federal government in countering militant violence in the province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the march would start from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with supporters from several districts joining. Afridi outlined planned stops and stages through October 8, when participants were expected to gather at Khairabad.