Dar accuses PTI of attempting to sabotage SCO summit

DPM says ready to extend a warm welcome to the summit participants, including the Indian foreign minister

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to successfully hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, despite attempts by a political party to disrupt proceedings through protests.

Without naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dar criticised the party for trying to sabotage the summit with their call for protests.

Speaking during a walk-through event in Islamabad to review the summit’s arrangements, Dar emphasised that Pakistan was fully prepared to welcome leaders and delegates from SCO member and observer countries. "We are ready to extend a warm welcome to the summit participants, including the Indian foreign minister," he stated.

Dar highlighted that Pakistan was hosting a major international event after several years and would handle its responsibilities with excellence. He also noted that while China’s prime minister would be visiting Pakistan for bilateral talks, no request for a bilateral meeting had been received from India’s foreign minister.

The SCO secretary-general would brief the media on the conference, and all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had played crucial roles in the summit's preparations.

Reflecting on past events, Dar pointed out that PTI had staged a sit-in during a previous visit by the Chinese prime minister in 2014 and was now attempting to disrupt the SCO summit.

"Protests during nationally significant events do not send a positive message," Dar said, urging the political party to reconsider its approach.