Overview
- Negotiations to avert PTI's planned long march broke down late Saturday and the party began its march on Sunday after talks failed to finalise a five-point framework.
- The central dispute focused on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa counterterrorism clauses that would define the federal role, emergency powers in three merged districts, and whether police-led operations could proceed with military assistance.
- The draft framework included legal-access concessions for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, a commitment to speed pending case hearings, and a clause saying PTI would withdraw the long march if the deal was signed.
- Senior federal ministers publicly blamed PTI leaders and K-P chief minister Sohail Afridi for stalling the talks and accused the party of double standards on terrorism, while Afridi said he sought written assurances and wider consultations.
- The collapse highlights deeper federal–provincial tension over who controls security in K-P and raises the risk of enforcement measures against protesters, renewed talks, or further political escalation in the coming days.