Islamabad is tense before of the SCO meeting next week due to the PTI protest

INN/Islamabad, @Infodeaofficial

With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressing its intention to stage a significant demonstration in the nation’s capital on October 15, the day the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit begins, security authorities in Pakistan are on high alert. On Friday, the PTI’s political committee met late into the night and decided to stage a sizable protest at D-Chowk.

“Pakistanis, prepare to reveal who is behind bars on your behalf. The oppressors have taken his lawyer, imprisoned his sisters, and severed all ties with our leader, Imran Khan. We must get to D-Chowk by October 15 since our leader’s life is under grave danger,” wrote Shayan Bashir, the PTI’s Central Punjab Chapter Information Secretary, on X following the meeting. The External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, is one of several prominent foreign dignitaries who are expected to attend the two-day SCO conference.

Following a string of violent rallies, skirmishes, detentions, and internet and phone service outages earlier this month, the Pakistani government formally turned over Islamabad’s security to Pakistan Army troops from October 4 to October 17.

“You shouldn’t have been tinkering with constitutional modifications if you were so worried about the SCO conference. We’ll place containers and dig roadways, but we’ll march on foot. By now, you must be aware that obstacles do not stop us… Those who come out now will be impossible for us to stop. Urgent updates on Imran Khan’s health, or let’s go together in D-Square,” cautioned prominent PTI figure and former MP Murad Saeed.

Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has also stated unequivocally that it will not permit the PTI demonstrations to hold the nation hostage.

We shall extend a hearty welcome to the leaders of the twelve nations travelling to Pakistan as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. In this regard, all security measures have been implemented; a protest announcement would have no bearing. The miscreants won’t have the opportunity to enter it, so they should relax and sit at home. Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Minister of Information, stated on social media that “SCO will run smoothly.”

It’s interesting to note that the PTI’s emergency meeting was held without the attendance of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, whose “disappearance” following his leadership of last week’s protest has raised concerns among party members.