The PTI late Monday night called off its planned D-Chowk protest scheduled for October 15, on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar has said that Imran’s health was the top priority.
The federal government has deployed over 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel for the security of around 900 delegates attending the 23rd SCO summit on October 15 and 16. The summit will see participation from Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Iranian First Vice President Reza Aref, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and leaders from other member states. Security agencies are determined to prevent any disruptions during this high-profile event.
In addition to these measures, army troops have been deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution to bolster security from October 5 to 17. The federal government also declared a three-day public holiday in the capital from October 14 to ensure the safety of the summit’s attendees.
Read: PM Shehbaz Sharif Inaugurates Gwadar International Airport, Chinese Premier Li Qiang Visits
Demand for Access to Imran Khan
Last week, PTI issued a nationwide call urging its leaders and workers to gather in Islamabad on October 15. The party demanded immediate access to Imran Khan, its founder, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail. The government had previously banned all visits to prisoners at Adiala Jail until October 18 due to security concerns related to the summit.
Despite facing significant criticism from the ruling coalition and business groups, PTI on Sunday reiterated its call for protest, instructing its office-bearers to reach Islamabad at all costs if the government failed to grant doctors and lawyers access to Imran Khan.
However, late on Monday night, PTI posted a message on X, stating: “The federal government has officially contacted us and assured us that doctors will visit Adiala Jail tomorrow morning to attend to Imran Khan. Based on this guarantee, the PTI leadership has decided to postpone tomorrow’s peaceful protest in Islamabad.”
Khan’s Health
PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar emphasized that Imran Khan’s health was the top priority for the party. He noted growing concerns since there had been no meeting with the party founder after October 3. This prompted the announcement of the protest, with a request sent to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for a family member, lawyer, or doctor to visit Imran Khan to address health concerns.
Gohar added that the party’s allies had also requested the postponement of the protest. “The interior minister has assured us that a doctor will definitely meet Imran tomorrow,” he said. After receiving the assurance, Gohar sought time to consult with PTI’s apex and political committees.
Following the consultations, the committees unanimously accepted the government’s offer, leading to the postponement of the protest.
Follow us on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates
