PTI postpones April 9 rally following directives from PTI founder Imran Khan

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday postponed its planned April 9 rally in Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh amid preparations for high-stakes US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad.

PTI chief Barrister Gohar Khan said that the public gathering had been postponed following directives from the jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

He added that the party received a message from the PTI founder through Barrister Salman Safdar, who met Khan in Adiala jail earlier today.

Barrister Gohar explained that the decision followed a consultation with the PTI political committee, which held a meeting earlier today to discuss ongoing strategies and party coordination.

The PTI chief emphasised that all political actions were being taken in the interest of Pakistan, saying the former ruling party always prioritised the nation first.

He welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran and expressed hope that it would become permanent.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also announced the decision following successful negotiations between the federal government and opposition leaders at Parliament House in Islamabad.

A government delegation — comprising Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and MNAs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar — met the opposition party leaders in Parliament House to request the postponement of the PTI rally.

The move followed Tarar's address on the National Assembly floor, where he urged the opposition to reconsider its protest call. He emphasised the need for national unity as Pakistan prepares to host delegations from the US and Iran for a ceasefire agreement in Islamabad.

After the meeting, the Senate opposition leader said the PTI's political committee had decided to defer the public gathering in response to the government’s request.