PTI calls D-Chowk ‘protest’ on Oct 15 during SCO summit

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday announced a peaceful protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15.

The protest call came at a time when Pakistan is set to host the the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Council (CHG) in the federal capital.

The federal government has deployed over 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel for the security of about 900 delegates, who are set to arrive in Islamabad for the 23^rd SCO summit.

The SCO summit is scheduled to be held on 15^th and 16^th of the month.

The CHG is the second-highest forum in the SCO. The SCO meeting is being participated by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Iranian first vice president Reza Aref, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and leaders from other member states.

Moreover, the government has deployed army troops under Article 245 of the Constitution, to bolster security measures in the federal capital.

The federal government has also announced a three-day holiday in the capital starting from Oct 14 to ensure the safety and protection of delegates attending the summit.

However, in a statement on X, PTI said all organisational officials and wings from the centre to the lowest level were instructed to finalise the preparations for the D-Chowk protest.

The party cancelled all protests in the districts of Punjab to prepare for the “peaceful protest” at D-Chowk

Imran Khan’s party warned that the entire nation would come out on Oct 15 for a full protest if the government did not immediately restore Imran’s basic rights and restore full access to his lawyers, doctors, family members and leaders.

“The illegitimate governments of Punjab and the federal government are also demanded to immediately stop the series of illegal and immoral raids and roundups while violating the sanctity of the cloak and four walls,” it said.