Pakistan Business Forum urged Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf to postpone their protest rally scheduled for October 15 in D-Chowk of Islamabad.
PBC President Khawaja Mehboobur Rehman in a statement said that due to presence of international dignitaries in Islamabad they should avoid holding protest rallies and demonstrations.
He further said that Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled to be held on October 15 to October 17, 2024 and successful holding of this summit will bring economic stability in Pakistan.
He said that instead of holding demonstrations and protest rallies they should focus on welcoming the valued guests.
Pakistan Business Council said that hosting of SCO Summit in Islamabad is an example of Pakistan’s successful foreign policy and diplomacy. This Summit will also provide an opportunity to Pakistan and other member states to resolve regional and international issues with consensus PBC President further said that Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit will pave way to strengthen trade ties among member states.
Meanwhile, various political parties dressed down the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for announcing protest on the inaugural day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad, with the government vowing to foil the party’s “conspiracy”.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government would not let the country be held hostage, as the SCO heads of states were gathering.
“They held a sit-in in 2014 and then the May 9 incident happened. These all are chain of destabilising the country,” he said, calling the PTI a pawn for international conspiracies.
Lambasting the PTI for badmouthing the government, he said the rule was not something that one inherited, it was something that always slipped away from one’s grasp. Whereas, once the PTI founder lost the power, he incited people for the May 9 violent incidents, he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman said the PTI’s attempt to hold protest on October 15 would send one message only that the party put itself above Pakistan and it was ready to endanger country’s reputation as well as security at a time when the country was hosting a big international event.—NNI
