Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar Urges PTI to Cancel Protest Amid SCO Meeting
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to cancel its planned protest on October 15. This request comes as Islamabad prepares to host the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on October 15-16.
Dar expressed concerns that the protest could disrupt the meeting and noted that it had already led to the postponement of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. He urged PTI to reconsider their decision, highlighting past instances where the party had crossed red lines and targeted state institutions.
PTI announced the protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, coinciding with the SCO Summit. PTI’s central information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, stated that the protest aims to address grievances, including the release of detained PTI members and the protection of their leader, Imran Khan.
Regarding Afghanistan’s participation in the SCO meeting, Dar clarified that Afghanistan’s observer status has been suspended since 2021, and decisions on invitations are made collectively by SCO member states.
Dar also discussed ongoing discussions on regional connectivity and the importance of integration and peace, which align with the objectives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership.
Doubts Revealed
Ishaq Dar -: Ishaq Dar is a politician in Pakistan. He is serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is involved in managing the country’s finances and economy.
PTI -: PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. It is a political party in Pakistan, led by Imran Khan. They are planning a protest in Islamabad.
SCO -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is a group of countries that work together on security and economic issues. The meeting is happening in Islamabad, Pakistan.
D-Chowk -: D-Chowk is a famous public square in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is often used for political gatherings and protests. PTI plans to hold their protest there.
Imran Khan -: Imran Khan is a famous politician and former cricketer in Pakistan. He is the leader of the PTI party. People are protesting to support him and his party members.
Regional integration -: Regional integration means countries in a region working closely together. It helps in improving trade, security, and peace among them. Ishaq Dar wants this for better relations in the area.