ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) officially withdrew its call for a protest at D-Chowk scheduled for Tuesday (today), the party’s Chairman Barrister Gohar announced.
The announcement follows intense negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led-government while the country is hosting Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the capital.
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In a statement, Barrister Gohar reassured his party leaders that the PTI founder’s access to medical care will be restored.
The PTI chairman confirmed that doctors would be dispatched to Adiala Jail today to conduct a medical examination of the former prime minister.
He stated that the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached out to the PTI on behalf of the government.
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The planned protest by the PTI in D-Chowk had raised concerns, particularly as it meant to coincide with the ongoing SCO summit, a significant international event for Pakistan.
The summit is viewed as a critical opportunity for Pakistan to improve its diplomatic relations and prove to the world that it is regionally stable enough to host international events. This follows two decades of isolation due to terrorism and security issues plaguing the nation.
In recent years, Pakistan has faced several issues related to terrorism and internal security, hindering its economic prospects. The country was hit with a double-digit inflation post Covid 19-pandemic.
Subsequent governments have been working to improve the country’s image and create a secure environment for foreign investment to move in.
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The SCO is expected to add key issues facing its member-states. In particular, security and economic cooperation, and counter-terrorism efforts are main discussion points.