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ISLAMABAD: An important contact has taken place between the government and the opposition, with Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas confirming his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

A journalist asked Raja Nasir Abbas whether he had met Mohsin Naqvi during the week. He confirmed that the meeting had taken place.

According to Raja Nasir Abbas, matters concerning PTI founder Imran Khan and the long march were discussed in detail during the meeting. He said the meeting took place at Mohsin Naqvi’s request and that he had not approached anyone seeking the meeting.

According to sources, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar arranged the meeting between Raja Nasir Abbas and Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting lasted around 1 hour and 15 minutes, and Barrister Gohar also participated in it, the sources said.

Sources said the meeting was held at the residence of a relative of Raja Nasir Abbas, where the proposed PTI protest on September 27 was also discussed.

According to sources, Mohsin Naqvi asked Raja Nasir Abbas to meet the prime minister so that the matters concerning relief for PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi could subsequently be discussed. Sources said Mohsin Naqvi also discussed the possibility of cancelling the September 27 protest.

Raja Nasir Abbas maintained that meetings with the PTI founder would have to be restored for negotiations to move forward.

Also Read: Raja Nasir Abbas Alleges Rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan Elections, Questions Transparency of Polls

Sources said that if the protest call was withdrawn, the possibility of transferring Bushra Bibi to Bani Gala could also be discussed. Sources further said that Raja Nasir Abbas also arranged a telephone conversation between Mohsin Naqvi and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

Raja Nasir Abbas said a meeting with the PTI founder should be arranged so that he could be consulted regarding withdrawal of the protest call.

According to sources, Mohsin Naqvi said that if the protest call was withdrawn, there should be no fresh protest afterward. His position was that once the call was withdrawn, it should remain withdrawn.

Sources said Barrister Gohar also met the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding the matter, while consultations on the protest were also held on Monday and Tuesday.

However, sources within the opposition alliance said that no final progress was made during the meeting regarding the September 27 protest and that the meeting did not produce a meaningful breakthrough.

Tahreek Tahafuz e Aaen Pakistan has issued a declaration following a meeting chaired by Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai, with the opposition alliance deciding to convene an All-Parties Conference to address the country’s political and economic crises.

According to the declaration, the September 27 long march will be a peaceful, constitutional and democratic struggle. The alliance said the September 27 protest would seek, through public mobilisation, to restore what it described as the people’s right to rule. It called on all democratic political forces to unite on a single platform to help steer the country out of crisis.

The declaration said inflation, unemployment, petrol prices and law and order would form part of the core agenda of the September 27 protest.

The opposition alliance has also formed committees to establish contacts with other political parties. The meeting discussed the law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment and the creation of new provinces.

The declaration stated that an “unrepresentative government” had no authority to break up provinces or divide them merely into administrative units. It said such proposals would be harmful to the federation, national units and the federal structure. The alliance maintained that provinces could not be deprived of their constitutional rights through a referendum or any other means, and particularly stressed maintaining Sindh’s existing geographical and administrative status.

The meeting also demanded a direct meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan and the provision of accurate information about his health. Participants condemned raids on the homes of PTI workers, arrests and what they described as violations of the sanctity of homes and privacy. The alliance also condemned the treatment of Sohail Afridi during his visit to Punjab.

According to the declaration, the meeting agreed on the immediate restoration of cross-border trade and rejection of the Mines and Minerals Act. It also called for the relevant provinces and local populations to be taken into confidence in decisions concerning natural resources.

The meeting also discussed domestic politics, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its effects on Pakistan.

The declaration said the alliance supported an effective diplomatic and mediatory role by Pakistan to help end rising tensions in the region.

Also Read: 155 PTI Workers Ordered Detained in Rawalpindi, List of 118 More Prepared

KOHAT: An initial incident report regarding the blast during Friday prayers and subsequent terrorist attack at the Police Lines on Hangu Road in Kohat has been submitted to the Secretary Health, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the report, a blast occurred at a mosque located inside Police Lines, Hangu Road, Kohat, at approximately 1:20 PM during Friday prayers. The blast was followed by a reported terrorist attack involving approximately 5 to 7 terrorists.

21 People Martyred

The initial report states that a total of 21 people were martyred in the incident, including 15 police personnel and 6 civilians.

Among the civilians who lost their lives was Dr. Israel Khan Aurakzai, Chief District Specialist (Pediatrics) at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat.

103 Injured Received at Hospitals

According to the report, a total of 103 injured people were received at the relevant health facilities.

Of these, 13 injured were received at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, while 90 injured people were received at DHQ Hospital Kohat.

The injured included 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.

34 Patients Admitted

The report further states that a total of 34 injured patients were admitted to hospital.

Five patients underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an operation on the abdomen. Four of the patients who underwent the procedure were subsequently referred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar for further treatment and management.

Medical Assistance Being Provided

The report states that the situation is being closely monitored and all possible medical assistance is being provided to the injured at the concerned health facilities.

The initial incident report was submitted to the Secretary Health, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for information and further necessary directions.

Also Read: 16 Killed, 57 Injured in Blast Near Police Lines Mosque in Kohat

Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the Islamabad High Court’s detailed judgment has been issued and, following the decision, there is no basis for anyone to storm Islamabad. He said contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against anyone who violates the court’s decision.

Speaking at a press conference, Mohsin Naqvi said there was no possibility of storming Islamabad after the detailed judgment of the Islamabad High Court. He added that anyone violating the court’s decision would face contempt of court proceedings.

The federal minister said those wishing to stage protests should do so in their own areas, adding that no one would be allowed to storm Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi said that significant losses had occurred in the past. He added that if young people were shot at, they would not simply remain silent.

He said law-enforcement agencies had been instructed to stop them by every possible means.

Also Read: 155 PTI Workers Ordered Detained in Rawalpindi, List of 118 More Prepared

A powerful explosion occurred near a police lines mosque in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Friday prayers, leaving 16 people dead and 57 others injured, including police personnel.

According to sources, the explosion took place between the old Police Lines mosque and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) office using a vehicle loaded with explosives. Sources said that Fitan al-Khawarij carried out the attack.

Following the blast, an exchange of fire also took place between armed militants and police and army personnel. During the retaliatory operation by security forces and police, three Khawarij militants were killed. According to sources, all three were from Afghanistan.

Police said the blast severely damaged the outer portion of the mosque and caused a wall to collapse. Nearby buildings were also damaged in the explosion.

Rescue and police teams reached the scene immediately after receiving information about the blast. During the ongoing search and rescue operation, more than 30 injured and deceased people have so far been shifted to hospitals in Rescue 1122 ambulances.

The search and rescue operation involves 14 ambulances, rescue vehicles, a recovery vehicle and more than 45 rescue personnel. Rescue activities will continue until the operation is completed.

Police said the Kohat-Hangu Road has been closed to all traffic, while additional police personnel have been deployed near the Police Lines.

Also Read: KP Assembly Passes Resolution Against Punjab Police Despite Quorum Objection

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has issued an open political challenge to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, saying PML-N can choose any city in Punjab while PTI will select a city of its choice, and PML-N can also decide the day, date and time of the rally.

In his statement, Sohail Afridi said both parties should be provided a complete and equal political field. He said that if the PML-N rally proved larger than the PTI rally in terms of public participation, he would be ready to quit politics.

He said that if the PTI rally was larger, the PML-N would have to answer questions before the people of Punjab regarding its public mandate, alleged violence and repression against political workers, style of governance and performance.

According to Sohail Afridi, the PML-N would also have to apologise to the public and reconsider its political strategy and leadership.

میں ساری نون لیگ کو ایک کھلا سیاسی چیلنج دیتا ہوں۔

پنجاب کے کسی بھی شہر کا انتخاب نون لیگ خود کرے، جبکہ تحریک انصاف کے لیے بھی وہ اپنی مرضی کا کوئی بھی شہر منتخب کر لے۔ دن، تاریخ اور وقت بھی نون لیگ خود طے کرے۔ شرط صرف یہ ہے کہ دونوں جماعتوں کو مکمل اور یکساں لیول پلیئنگ فیلڈ دی…

— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) September 17, 2026

“Let the People Decide Through Their Strength”

The PTI leader said that if the PML-N had confidence in the performance of its government and its popularity among the people of Punjab, it should have no hesitation in accepting the challenge.

He said the biggest political test for the PML-N was the performance of Maryam Nawaz’s government. According to him, if the PML-N had confidence in the performance of its government and public popularity, it should come into the political field and let the people decide through their strength.

Sohail Afridi said the decision should not be based on claims, official statistics or media statements, but on public participation in rallies and the public response.

He said the challenge had been clearly presented and the people of Punjab would now decide.

In his statement, Sohail Afridi referred to the Feb. 8 general elections and claimed that the people of Punjab had given PTI a two-thirds majority on that occasion.