The federal government in a major decision amid political tensions has extended the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad till October 15.

A notice to that effect was issued on Saturday. Up to 3,000 soldiers would be deployed in the capital until October 15, the announcement said. The federal government has earlier approved the deployment of Rangers through October 5.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated in a statement that the first phase of the long march would start on Sunday (today) from Gundi Chowk, Lakki Marwat.

The opposition and government talks close with no positive outcome, meaning the standoff continues as the PTI has called for a protracted march on Islamabad from Sunday (today).

The standoff between the government and the PTI had moved to administrative issues relating to counter-terrorism.

Sources say the PTI was not willing to implement several administrative measures in terrorism-affected areas and also had reservations on the government’s counter-terrorism plan.

Sources said the administration had made plain that if there was no action on the counterterrorism problem, then progress on other subjects would also be blocked.

“There is still a deadlock in talks with the government and nothing will be finalised until the meeting with the PTI founder,” opposition leader Allama Nasir Abbas remarked.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also held talks with President Asif Zardari. He consulted major political figures and legal experts.
Authorities in the federal capital sought to extend the deployment of 3,000 paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad until Oct. 15, official documents showed on Saturday, as the government and opposition held talks to defuse tensions ahead of a planned march by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party.

The plea comes as officials continue to beef up security in and around the capital ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) march, which is scheduled to leave Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

Transporters are complaining that their transportation of goods has been hindered, with shipping containers placed to block crucial routes.

Four Pakistani sailors freed after more than five months of captivity aboard a tanker hijacked by Somali pirates are due to return to Karachi on Sunday, a day later than previously announced, according to travel details obtained by Arab News, as efforts continued to bring home the bodies of three compatriots killed during the ordeal.

According to an itinerary acquired by Arab News, four sailors, Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani, are booked on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET694 from Addis Ababa, which is due to arrive at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 4:40 p.m. on Oct. 4.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office and its consulate in Djibouti were working to get the sailors back and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Friday the four will arrive in Karachi on Saturday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that an emergency will be imposed if necessary to save the province, arguing that the prevailing situation could provide grounds for such a measure.

Speaking to a private television channel, Kundi said that when the situation in the province reaches such a point, the president, prime minister and other relevant institutions may consider imposing an emergency.

The KP governor said that if an emergency or similar measure was imposed, he alone would be enough to deal with the situation. He claimed that those involved were currently hiding and getting themselves arrested.

Kundi said he did not make provocative statements like his opponents and would deal with them when the situation arose. Questioning the ongoing long march, he asked whether anything was actually happening in Peshawar, whether any corner meetings had been held or whether any banners had been seen.

He said the long march had so far only resulted in what he described as self-arrests and people going into hiding. Kundi challenged the participants to cross Swabi and said there appeared to be no proper planning behind the march.

The governor claimed that the protesters wanted the march to continue for a month but did not want to reach Swabi.