PML-N rejects PTI’s condition to withdraw October 15 protest

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has rejected the condition offered by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which the former ruling party had set to cancel its October 15 protest as it coincides with the highly-anticipated summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The PML-N-led government coalition, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has urged the PTI to re-evaluate its call for protest in the federal capital, which will host the high-level debate on October 15-16.

Speaking of Geographic News “Naya Pakistan” program, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said, “You can open the prison for a jalsa (…) so if you are so worried about SCO, then allow a meeting with (Imran) Khan. If your sisters and doctors say everything is fine after meeting you, there will be no protest.”

Explaining that the meeting would last 10 to 15 minutes, he stressed that the party leadership is concerned about the health of its founding president.

“You have left us incommunicado,” he said, claiming authorities were not allowing meetings with the former prime minister.

The PTI spokesperson also dispelled reports that there were differences within the party leadership over the holding of the October 15 rally.

The news reported that PTI Chairman Lawyer Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, among others, opposed the rally, while Hammad Azhar, Salman Akram Raja and others advocated holding the protest.

Meanwhile, the party also wrote a letter to the Ministry of the Interior requesting a meeting with the former prime minister. “PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Hamid Raza should be allowed to meet PTI founder.”

The letter also mentioned that the last meeting with the founding president of PTI was on October 3.

‘Effort to blackmail the government’

PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry, responding to PTI’s demand, said Khan is the most privileged prisoner in history. He added that Khan already holds regular meetings, implying that there are no restrictions on their interactions.

Chaudhry further criticized the PTI narrative, stating, “They are using the SCO conference as an excuse.”

He emphasized the importance of the event, saying, “The SCO conference is a major international event, with 200 delegations coming to Pakistan. This conference is not about any individual; it is directly linked to the economy and the future of the country.”

He also rejected the PTI’s protest plans, accusing them of trying to blackmail the state. “The call for protest is just an effort to blackmail the government,” Chaudhry said.

He highlighted that despite being arrested, Khan is receiving VIP treatment. “In addition to meetings, he also enjoys special privileges. A VIP prisoner gets VIP facilities,” he said.

Concluding his statement, Chaudhry expressed doubts over the PTI’s ability to carry out its protest threats. “They may think about protesting, but they won’t have the courage to actually do it,” he said. He accused the PTI of using the situation as a pretext to attack the SCO conference.