The former ruling party has announced that it would observe a ‘Black Day’ on February 8. The leadership and workers from the federal capital would participate in the provincial rally while the Punjab supporters are expected to join the Lahore rally.

Khan’s party decided to stage a rally after the talks with the government abruptly ended.

The fourth round of negotiations between the government and the PTI concluded on January 28 after jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party members did not show up for the meeting.

The PTI committee refused to attend the meeting because of the government’s failure to meet its demands.

Khan’s party leaders sought the formation of a judicial commission over the May 9 and November 26 events and the release of “political prisoners”. The PTI believes that the PML-N’s apparent failure proved that it was “powerless” to fulfil demands.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who presided over the talks, expressed hope that talks would continue. “When talks are held, conditions are not made and sit to decide whether it was decided or not.”

On January 30, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered an olive branch to the PTI despite the latter’s backing out of the talks with the government’s committee.

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“It takes two to tango. I am ready with a clear heart and positive intention that this dialogue should proceed and parleys continue so that the country moves forward and does not further face anarchy. The country cannot afford this,” he said while addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad on Thursday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has urged “every Pakistani to take to the streets on Black Day.”

Protests are planned in 13 districts of Southern Punjab on Saturday while the leadership in Sindh would hold demonstrations in Karachi and their respective constituencies, they added.