Islamabad (TDI): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned protest at D-Chowk, which was scheduled for today (Tuesday), in light of the inaugural session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed the decision late Monday, stating that the move was made following assurances from the federal government regarding a medical examination of the party’s imprisoned founder, Imran Khan.
The decision to defer the protest was taken after a meeting of PTI’s political committee, where the majority of participants urged the party leadership to reconsider the protest in view of the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting taking place in Islamabad on October 15-16, according to media reports.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also formally reached out to PTI, asking the party to ensure that the protest did not coincide with the high-profile international event.
According to Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the protest was postponed after Naqvi assured the party that a medical examination of Imran Khan, who is currently jailed in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, would be conducted on Tuesday morning.
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He also added that the decision was made to allow the peaceful conduct of the SCO summit.
Pakistan is hosting the major diplomatic event, which will see the participation of key leaders from several countries, including China and Russia.
Among the high-profile attendees are Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade.
Protest Call Criticized
PTI’s decision to call for a protest drew widespread criticism from the federal government, its allies, and various business and economic experts, who urged the party to reconsider its timing given the significance of the SCO summit.
Earlier on Monday, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram had revealed that the party had placed a condition before the government to allow Imran Khan’s sisters and personal doctors to meet him in Adiala Jail, citing concerns about the former prime minister’s health.
PTI has also written to the Ministry of Interior, requesting that party leadership be permitted to meet Khan.
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Additionally, Khan’s private physician will also be allowed to visit him.
Interior Minister Naqvi informed the PTI leadership of the government’s decision, which led to the postponement of the protest.
PTI has been holding demonstrations in recent months, calling for “judicial independence” and the release of its founder, who has been jailed for over a year.
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