The PTI protest planned for October 15 has drawn a strong response from the government. Officials have vowed to use “full force” to stop the demonstration. Defence Minister Asif made these remarks during a media briefing in Sialkot. He stated, “The call for protest on October 15 is an attack on the integrity of the country.”
The planned PTI protest coincides with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad. On that day, the city will host representatives from various nations. The Council of Heads of Government meeting is scheduled from October 15 to 16. Asif emphasized that the state would use all its power and resources to prevent what he described as an “invasion” of the capital.
This PTI protest would mark the second protest in Islamabad within a month. The previous protest saw violence as PTI supporters protested for “independence of the judiciary” and demanded the release of their jailed leader, Imran Khan. The Islamabad Inspector General’s report stated that these protests caused damages worth Rs240 million.
Asif also accused the PTI of attempting to replicate the violent events of May 9, when military installations were vandalized. He argued that the party aims to hinder the country’s progress and development. He called for judicial intervention, questioning, “Do the courts not see what the PTI founder is doing with the integrity of the country?”
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal also commented on the PTI protest. He noted that nine heads of state would visit Pakistan during the SCO summit. He expressed concern that the PTI’s actions could derail important international relations. Iqbal highlighted that the Chinese prime minister is visiting Pakistan after 11 years, yet the PTI has decided to hold a protest.
He drew a comparison to the 2014 Karachi airport attack, suggesting a connection between that incident and the PTI’s upcoming demonstration. “I think that their script writer is the same,” Iqbal stated. He accused the PTI of attempting to undermine the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at a critical time for the economy.
Iqbal urged Imran Khan to prove his innocence in court. He reminded everyone that he had also faced imprisonment during the PTI’s time in power, saying, “We did not fight the state when we were sent to jail.”
