Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has laid down a stark condition for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before he’ll engage in negotiations: halt all protests. In a forceful message delivered on October 7, 2026, Sharif urged the PTI to “come to your senses,” calling on leaders to end their ongoing long march and sit-in before any meaningful talks can take place.
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## Sharif’s Demand: End the Long March and Sit-ins
At a public event in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz Sharif made the government’s position clear. He emphasized that while dialogue is possible, it hinges entirely on PTI abandoning its current strategy of street protests.
“I urge you to come to your senses, end the long march and sit-in, and then we will sit with you,” Sharif declared.
The message was both a call for peace and a warning that protests could inflict further damage on Pakistan’s fragile economy.
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## PTI’s Reaction: Calls Talks Symbolic, Unrealized
PTI labeled Sharif’s invitation as largely performative. Spokesperson Gohar criticized the government’s offer, arguing that aside from the announcement, no tangible actions have supported Sharif’s expressed openness to discussions.
One significant PTI concern: its leaders have reportedly been cut off from meeting their founder, Imran Khan. According to Gohar, the last meeting between Khan and senior party officials took place in October of the previous year.
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## The March Advances
Despite the prime minister’s conditions, PTI pressed ahead with its long march on October 6–7, moving toward Peshawar through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The convoy paused in Kohat by Monday, where Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressed supporters.
Afridi, who began the march from Lakki Marwat, was vocally loyal: “I am a soldier of Imran Khan. Even if the whole world comes together, it cannot put a price on me.” He pledged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was committed to Imran Khan, reinforcing the march’s symbolic weight.
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## Failed Mediation Attempts
Negotiations between PTI and the government, steered by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, broke down over the weekend of October 4–5 when neither side would compromise. Key sticking points included assurance for opposition leaders to meet with Imran Khan, something PTI insists on. In contrast, the government has demanded that protests cease—both long march and sit-ins—as a prerequisite.
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## Economic Warning
Shehbaz Sharif didn’t simply frame the protests as political theater—he cast them as a threat to economic stability. In his address, he warned that the ongoing mobilization could exacerbate instability, mentioning possible implications for markets, investment, and overall governance.
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## Stakes for Both Parties
For Shehbaz Sharif’s government, acquiescing to PTI’s demands without the cessation of protest could set a precedent, weakening its authority. To PTI, however, giving up public pressure without guarantees—especially access to Khan—risks losing momentum.
If Sharif holds firm, it’s likely that talks remain blocked—unless PTI is convinced to stand down. But Plausibly, the government might miss a chance to negotiate without leveraging its offer into actual policy change.
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## Takeaway
– Prime Minister Sharif insists PTI must immediately halt its long march and sit-ins before any dialogue.
– PTI views these conditions as performative since no active steps have been taken toward fulfilling them.
– Meeting between PTI leaders and Imran Khan has been denied for nearly a year; last interaction dates back to October of the previous year.
– The long march continued unabated, reaching Kohat, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi appealing to supporters to join and showing strong loyalty to Khan.
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