NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will not be allowed to disrupt the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Head of States’ Summit, the way they did in 2014, prompting the cancellation of the Chinese president’s visit then
Sharif’s statement comes in response to Khan’s call for a rally at D-Chowk, demanding his release from Adiala Jail, independence of the judiciary, and protesting rising inflation, PTI News agency reported.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of the SCO meeting and stressed that any protest in the capital during the summit would pose a security threat. Sharif also highlighted the comprehensive arrangements made for the event and the bilateral visit of the Chinese Premier to Pakistan.
Slamming the opposition party, Sharif said that the PTI had done nothing except to create chaos and divide the nation. “Neither did the party bring back money to the country while it was in power nor did it end corruption – claims that were part of its election manifesto.”
Stating that top officials from China, Russia, India, and other nations will attend the SCO conference and if a protest is going on in the capital, it will pose a security threat, Sharif said, “I will not allow the repeat of 2014 […] the conspiracy that took place. We will not allow this, we will not tolerate this at all.”
“This is my promise to the nation,” the prime minister told his cabinet members.
Sharif criticised the PTI for creating chaos and dividing the nation, stating that the party had failed to fulfill its election manifesto promises of bringing back money to the country and ending corruption during its tenure. He vowed not to allow a repeat of the 2014 incident, where a PTI sit-in prompted the cancellation of the Chinese president’s visit.
The prime minister’s remarks come in the wake of recent clashes between PTI supporters and security personnel in Islamabad and Lahore, resulting in the arrest of numerous party workers and cases being lodged against Khan and his supporters.
Sharif also addressed the recent suicide attack targeting a convoy of Chinese workers near Karachi airport, expressing regret and sharing the grief and sorrow of the Chinese people, Pakistani news Geo News reported.
In the attack, two Chinese people killed, whose responsibility Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has confirmed.
He said, “Indeed, the Chinese [officials] are saddened. However, we have assured them that we have made complete security arrangements for the upcoming SCO summit.”