ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Saturday warned to use force if jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party went ahead to hold a protest in Islamabad on the occasion of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the government would use “full force” to stop the PTI’s planned protest on the occasion of the SCO summit.
“The call for protest on October 15 is an attack on the integrity of the country. We will not allow [anyone] to damage the honour and reputation of the country. The state will use all of its power and resources to prevent the invasion of Islamabad,” said Asif while speaking to the media in Sialkot.
The politician also called for the courts to intervene and take notice of the matter. “Do the courts not see what the PTI founder is doing with the integrity of the country? The actions of the judiciary today will determine their role in history,” he said.
Separately, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the protest call by terming it “political terrorism” which is aimed at maligning the country.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Amir Muqam also strongly rejected the PTI’s protest call. “It is proof of anti-nationalism. There is no doubt that PTI’s agenda seems to be anti-Pakistan because the party has declared the protest on this important occasion,” he said.
However, the PTI was in no mood to back off and Bukhari said the party was not against any foreign visit but “this illegitimate government” was trying to create a false case of normality when “a former prime minister and leader of the largest party is illegally in prison (according to the UN) along with his wife”. “And to top it off, he has been banned to meet his legal team, doctor or family, which is against all human rights conventions and our constitution. Issues at home need to be solved before faking business as usual. Our only demand is let a doctor or sister meet Imran khan. That’s all. It’s completely illegal and unacceptable. And the world should know it,” he said.
The 23rd SCO summit has been scheduled to be held on October 15 and 16 and several leaders, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Iranian first vice-president Reza Aref, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other leaders from member states are expected to attend.