PM Shehbaz links fresh talks with PTI to end of Islamabad long march

• PM Shehbaz urges PTI to "come to your senses, end long march".
• Ruling coalition collectively decided to hold talks with PTI: PM.
• PM warns protest could affect exports, manufacturing activities.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday extended a fresh offer of talks to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), provided it ends its ongoing long march towards Islamabad.

Addressing an event in Islamabad, the prime minister warned that the politics of sit-ins and long marches would first target the country's economy.

"Unfortunately, the shadows of dharnas and long marches have once again emerged," he said, adding that the ruling coalition had collectively decided to hold talks with the PTI to persuade the party to abandon the politics of dharnas [sit-ins].

"I urge you to come to your senses, end the long march and sit-in, and then we will sit with you," PM Shehbaz said.

His remarks came as the PTI's long march, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Kohat in the province.

The PTI began the march on October 4 after government-opposition negotiations aimed at averting the protest collapsed.

The Imran Khan-founded party — which rules KP — and a delegation from the government and PPP held three rounds of talks, but on Sunday morning, they finally broke down, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown.

The party had previously postponed the protest from September 27 to October 4, while government officials had repeatedly warned that the march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the prime minister warned that protests could affect exports, imports and manufacturing activities, while the country's development and prosperity process was continuing.

"If workers and engineers do not reach factories and offices on time, the loss will be Pakistan's," he said.

Premier Shehbaz maintained that the government had managed to put the economy back on its feet through two-and-a-half years of hard work and teamwork, saying the government's efforts reflected the aspirations of the nation and the voice of every Pakistani.