PM slams PTI amid fresh call for D-Chowk protest
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif slammed a chaos-monger Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday, as the opposition party announced another "forceful" protest in the D-Chowk of Islamabad on October 15, the first day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
The PTI decision was taken during an emergency meeting of its political committee. According to a statement, in view of the preparations for the protest on October 15, the protests planned in the districts of Punjab had been cancelled and their schedule would be announced later.
Addressing a Police Darbar at the Police Lines Headquarters in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz paid glowing tribute to the police for their "bravery and courage", effectively thwarting a recent violent political rally in the federal capital that, he said, was aimed at creating chaos.
"The Islamabad police foiled the fanatic group's deadly plan," Shehbaz said. "In 2014, these chaos-mongers rioted day and night for seven months at D-Chowk, forcing the government to postpone the visit of our close friend, Chinese President Xi Jinping," he added.
"Then, the rioters damaged private property, there was an unholy plan to attack PTV and parliament, hundreds of police officers and personnel including [Senior Superintendent of Police] Asmatullah Junejo, were injured," he continued.
"At that time, their aim was to cause deaths, but the Islamabad police and Rangers handled the situation professionally and brought it to a proper conclusion. The police fulfilled their duty with the national interest as their priority," he said.
Shehbaz said that hurling abuses had become a habit of this fanatical group. "On October 4 and 5 [2024], they again tried to attack the Federation, but they were thwarted" as the police performed well, keeping the national interest in mind.
In his speech, the prime minister paid rich tributes to police Constable Abdul Hameed Shah, who was martyred by the PTI rioters last week while on duty. "Shaheed laid down his life in the line of duty for peace and security of millions of Pakistanis," he said.
He ordered the immediate completion of the police recruitment process to address the personnel shortage. He also announced that the salaries of Islamabad police would be raised to match those of the Punjab police without delay.
PTI protest
Prime Minister Shehbaz later visited the capital city to review arrangements for the upcoming SCO Summit. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and relevant authorities briefed the prime minister about the arrangements.
Talking to the media after the visit, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad had been made fully safe and secure to welcome foreign delegations, including 12 heads of the governments, for the SCO Conference and warned that "no miscreant will be allowed to disrupt" the summit.
"Those who have a mindset to conspire against the country should better stay at home," the minister told the media. "These announcements do not make any difference. Islamabad has been made fully safe and secure," he added.
"It (SCO Conference) will proceed as scheduled and will elevate Pakistan's prestige and international image," the minister said, adding that the prime minister had personally overseen the arrangements for welcoming the dignitaries arriving in Islamabad for the event.
"This shows the importance of such a grand event in Pakistan which will be instrumental in boosting the country's economy," he added. "All the dignitaries participating in the SCO will be accorded a warm welcome and the whole nation is ready to celebrate the event with national pride."
As the government finalizes arrangements for the October 15-16 event, the PTI political committee announced another "forceful protest" in the D-Chowk on the first day of the summit.
A statement issued by PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, stated in view of the protest in D Chowk on October 15, all the party offices and wings had been directed to start preparations, while the party's planned protests in the districts across Punjab had been cancelled for now.
The statement further said that this "illegitimate government" was not willing to give up its cruelty in total disregard for the law and the Constitution. It added that the party founder Imran Khan was being subjected to a new series of brutalities in Adiala Jail to put his life in danger.
According to Express News, the decision for the protest was taken in an emergency meeting of the PTI political committee. The report said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur did not participate in the meeting.
In another sign of disagreement within the party, senior party leader Ali Muhammad Khan opposed the protest call on the occasion of SCO Summit, saying that there should be no protest on the occasion of this major diplomatic event, "but if we are pushed against the wall, we will have no other option".
In an Express News programme Center Stage, Khan told the host, Rehman Azhar, that the government faced danger from one place only, and that was the Supreme Court. "They are subverting the system to save the government," he said, referring to the government move to amend the Constitution.