Govt talks PTI out of D-Chowk protest plan

Leadership cites govt assurances on Imran's health

ISLAMABAD:

In a last-minute decision, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has pulled the plug on its scheduled protest at D-Chowk on October 15 (today), shifting its gears after the government finally caved into its demands.

It also cited the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit starting today as the reason for the change in plans.

The decision was made by PTI's political committee after a meeting, where the majority of participants urged the party to back off from the protest, considering the high-stakes moot.

Earlier in the day, the PTI parliamentary party floated the idea of deferring the protest if PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan could secure a meeting with the party's founder.

The meeting resolved that the protests would be postponed if the government addressed their key concerns.

Preparations for the protest were in full swing, with PTI leadership issuing marching orders to ticket holders and party workers from across the country to descend on D-Chowk.

The party had also summoned its workers to gather in Swabi by noon on Tuesday in preparation for the Islamabad demonstration, signalling that PTI was ready to go the distance—until the government blinked first.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed the move, explaining that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had reached out to the party, assuring them that a medical examination of the party's founder, Imran Khan, would be conducted on Tuesday morning.

Given the guarantee, the PTI decided to shelve its demonstration, for now.

He said that since the party's demands have been met, its protest is on ice.

He told the Express News that a team of doctors would visit the jailed PTI founder for a detailed medical check-up.

Following the cancellation, PTI has directed its workers to stand down and halt all preparations.

Barrister Gohar clarified that the protest was always conditional, and with the government accepting their demands, the party saw no reason to continue. "We have postponed the protest, but it's not off the table. If our conditions aren't fully met, we will regroup," he said in a video statement.

Gohar further revealed that Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had formally contacted the party, ensuring access to Imran Khan for medical treatment would be reinstated. "Doctors will be sent to Adiala Jail this morning," Gohar added.

PTI's leadership, satisfied with the government's pledge, has decided to hold fire on the Islamabad protest.

Behind the scenes, reports revealed that PTI had set clear conditions for the coalition government to avert the protest, demanding that Imran's sisters and doctors be allowed to visit him at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, citing concerns over his health.

The PTI had also written to the Ministry of Interior, requesting permission for Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Hamid Raza to meet the party founder.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) initially rejected PTI's demands, with its ministers warning of stern action against any attempts to upset the capital's peace during the SCO summit.

However, sources confirmed that the federal government eventually conceded to PTI's condition for a medical check-up of the incarcerated Imran.

It was learned that a medical team from the PIMS would visit Adiala Jail today to conduct a thorough examination of the former prime minister, alongside Khan's private physician.

Earlier in the day, in response to PTI's call for a protest, police launched raids as PTI candidates and workers went into hiding to avoid arrest.

The interior minister had issued strict security directives to the district administration regarding the SCO summit, stating that no gatherings of any kind will be permitted in Islamabad.