PTI Long March Sets Off From Lakki Marwat After Talks With Government Collapse

PTI long march Islamabad-bound: the convoy set out from Lakki Marwat on October 4, 2026, turning a long standoff into a moving confrontation on the highway.

Hours before the march began, the final round of negotiations ended without an agreement. This is a developing story, and the two sides blame each other for the breakdown.

Why the PTI Long March Islamabad Talks Collapsed

PTI and a delegation from the government and PPP held three rounds of talks in the days leading up to October 4. The second round stretched past midnight into the early hours of Sunday, with negotiators leaving the room after 2am, according to The Express Tribune.

By Sunday morning, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the talks had collapsed and blamed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Naqvi said the KP government had agreed to sign a written agreement and submit a counterterrorism implementation plan within 72 hours, then "backed out of these commitments" in the final phase of negotiations.

In the government's telling, the sticking point was counterterrorism cooperation. Rana Sanaullah said the government revised the draft agreement two or three times, but the KP government would not commit to cooperating with the federal counterterrorism policy. "The provincial government must fulfil its constitutional and legal responsibility against terrorism," he said, calling the demand non-negotiable.

PTI's negotiators tell a different story. Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the primary reason for the failure was the federal government's insistence that the province take ownership of anti-terrorism actions that, in his telling, had been initiated unilaterally by the federation.

Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said the main cause of the deadlock was the denial of access to PTI founder Imran Khan. He said PTI was ready to withdraw all other demands if its political leadership were allowed to meet Imran Khan for consultation. "The deadlock came because we wanted access to Imran Khan first," he told Express News. The government's account, as reported by Sanaullah, was that a meeting with Imran Khan would be decided later and could not be part of the agreement at that stage, while PTI linked any decision on the protest to the outcome of talks and access to Imran Khan. Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said differences also remained over access to Imran Khan's personal doctor. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the march would proceed and dialogue efforts would continue.

The March Route: Lakki Marwat Toward the Capital

Shortly after the talks were declared dead, Afridi announced on X at 12:46am on October 4 that the protest would go ahead, and travelled from Peshawar to Lakki Marwat to lead it, accompanied by PTI leaders including Junaid Akbar, Geo News reported.

Supporters from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South and North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat gathered at Gandi Chowk, and the convoy set off at 1pm on Sunday under a heavy police deployment.

Afridi posted a day-by-day route: camp near Karak on Sunday night, Karak participants joining Monday, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai joining on October 6 en route to Peshawar, a Budh Bair Peshawar departure on October 7, a night near Charsadda Interchange, and a gathering at Khairabad on October 8, where he said the next phase would be announced.

Government's Response: Islamabad Entry Will Be Blocked

"The long march will not be allowed to enter the limits of Islamabad," Sanaullah said on Sunday, adding that any attempt to create disorder would be stopped using the force of law. He also said negotiations could resume if PTI and the KP government were prepared to cooperate on the terrorism issue.

Naqvi said those gathering for the protest would face a complete legal process and trial if they violated the law, and reiterated that no one would be permitted to storm the federal capital. The government had earlier deployed additional security personnel and placed shipping containers on roads leading to Islamabad, according to reports in The Hindu and India TV News.

On the same day, Naqvi flew to Peshawar and held a security meeting with KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at Governor House, joined by the province's chief secretary, inspector general of police and IG Frontier Corps, according to UrduPoint and Aaj News. Kundi said he would play his constitutional role if the president and prime minister deemed governor's rule or an emergency necessary in the province.

What Happens Next in the PTI Long March Islamabad Standoff

The immediate focus is Khairabad, where the convoy is expected on October 8 and Afridi has promised to announce the next move. The final approach toward Islamabad has still not been disclosed. PTI maintains the protest will remain peaceful, while the government maintains PTI has created law and order situations on entering the capital before. Sanaullah's offer of renewed negotiations in exchange for counterterrorism cooperation, and Barrister Gohar's insistence that dialogue continue, suggest neither side has closed the door entirely.

Sources: The News (https://www.thenews.pk/story/1441021-cm-afridi-led-pti-long-march-launched-from-lakki-marwat), Geo News (https://www.geo.tv/latest/684992-pti-begins-islamabad-long-march-after-talks-breakdown), The Express Tribune (https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632785/govt-pti-kick-off-second-round-of-talks-ahead-of-oct-4-long-march?amp=1)

FAQs

Why did the government-PTI talks fail?

Both sides blame each other. The government says the KP government refused to commit to cooperating with federal counterterrorism policy and backed out of agreed points at the final stage. PTI says the federal government insisted the province own unilaterally initiated operations, and that the denial of access to Imran Khan was the main cause of the deadlock.

What is the PTI long march route?

The march began at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on October 4 at 1pm. The convoy planned to camp near Karak, move through Kohat and Peshawar, spend the night near Charsadda Interchange on October 7, and gather at Khairabad on October 8, where the next phase is to be announced.

Will the march be allowed into Islamabad?

The government says no. Rana Sanaullah has said the march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad's limits and any disorder will be dealt with under the law. Containers have been placed on roads to the capital and security personnel deployed. PTI says the protest will remain peaceful.

What did Asad Qaiser say about the deadlock?

Asad Qaiser said the main cause of the deadlock was the denial of access to Imran Khan. He said PTI was ready to withdraw all its other demands if its political leadership were allowed to meet the imprisoned PTI founder for consultation, but the government refused to include this in the agreement.

Could talks restart?

Possibly. Rana Sanaullah said negotiations could resume if PTI and the KP government cooperated on counterterrorism. Barrister Gohar Khan also said dialogue efforts would continue. The next signal is expected on October 8 at Khairabad.