Pakistan Minister Ahsan Iqbal Criticizes PTI’s Protest During SCO Summit
Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has condemned the PTI party’s call for a protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad on October 15, which coincides with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He described the protest as ‘political terrorism,’ accusing PTI of attempting to tarnish Pakistan’s image and hinder its development and economic progress.
The PTI has suspended its protests in Punjab and called for a nationwide gathering in Islamabad, demanding access to their founder, Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala Jail. The government has banned visits to prisoners in Adiala Jail until October 18 for security reasons due to the SCO summit.
During a press conference, Iqbal expressed disappointment over the protest’s timing, stating it undermines the country’s prestige during the summit. He compared the political unrest to terrorism and suggested that the same ‘scriptwriter’ is behind these actions to disrupt Pakistan’s progress.
Iqbal urged PTI supporters to recognize the damage caused by their party’s actions, recalling how previous protests delayed the Chinese president’s visit in 2014. He warned that PTI’s actions aim to undermine economic recovery efforts and stressed the importance of avoiding destructive politics.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also criticized the protest, stating that the courts should take notice and that the government will use all its resources to protect the country’s reputation. Federal Minister Amir Muqam and other officials also condemned the protest, labeling it as ‘anti-nationalism’ and harmful to Pakistan’s interests.
Doubts Revealed
Ahsan Iqbal -: Ahsan Iqbal is a politician in Pakistan. He is the Minister for Planning and Development, which means he helps plan how the country will grow and improve.
PTI -: PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is a political party in Pakistan. It was founded by Imran Khan, who is a famous cricketer turned politician.
SCO Summit -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is a group of countries that work together on security and economic issues. The summit is a big meeting where leaders from these countries discuss important topics.
Political terrorism -: Political terrorism is when people use fear or violence to try to achieve political goals. In this context, it means using protests to create fear or disrupt important events.
Imran Khan -: Imran Khan is a well-known person in Pakistan. He was a famous cricket player and later became a politician. He founded the PTI party and has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif -: Khawaja Asif is another politician in Pakistan. He is the Defence Minister, which means he is responsible for the country’s military and defense matters.
