Pakistan in talks with Imran Khan's opposition party as protests loom

ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: Pakistan's government and the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan held talks on Friday over planned protests by his supporters that threaten to bring Islamabad to a standstill.

In anticipation of the protests calling for Khan's release, shipping containers requisitioned by authorities have stood for weeks along major highways and at key entry points to the Pakistani capital to stop arriving demonstrators.

President Asif Ali Zardari's office said representatives from the government and Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were to meet on Friday to discuss the protests, planned for Sunday after being pushed back from September 27.

State broadcaster PTV reported the meetings had concluded for the day and would resume on Saturday.�" AFP