Islamabad, 2 October, 2026 (Nosheen): The first round of government-opposition talks concluded in Islamabad on Friday, with both sides presenting their demands and agreeing to resume negotiations on Saturday at 2pm. The talks were held at the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq amid preparations for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned march towards Islamabad on October 4. According to reports, the PTI delegation called for the release of party founder Imran Khan, medical examination and other relief measures, while also seeking the release of his sisters and arrested members of the provincial and national assemblies. The government side, meanwhile, urged PTI to withdraw its call for the October 4 march. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the participants on the security and terrorism situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said he was facilitating the dialogue and stressed that negotiations were the appropriate forum for resolving political differences. He said Parliament provided a platform for addressing national issues through dialogue. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party had entered the talks with sincerity and hoped the negotiations would produce results, adding that political issues should be resolved through dialogue. Government representatives, including Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, said political matters could be addressed through negotiations while legal matters would be dealt with by the courts. Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry urged the opposition to adopt a political approach and avoid marching on Islamabad, while emphasizing the need for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to play its role in addressing terrorism in the province. Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the political and security situation, particularly the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and stressed coordination among relevant institutions to strengthen efforts against terrorism. The PTI had earlier postponed its planned march from September 27 to October 4 and has linked the protest to demands including Imran Khan’s release and other political and constitutional issues.