Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to prevent the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from replicating its disruptive 2014 sit-in in Islamabad.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has consistently accused the PTI of jeopardizing Pakistan’s economy, recalling how a 126-day protest led to the cancellation of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad.
With the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit approaching on October 15 and 16, where leaders from China, Russia, India, and other member nations are expected to gather, the government is concerned about potential security risks posed by ongoing protests in the capital.
“I will not allow a repeat of the events from 2014 […] We will not tolerate this at all. This is my promise to the nation,” the Prime Minister stated during a federal cabinet meeting.
The PTI claims its protests are aimed at advocating for “judicial independence” and the release of its founder, Imran Khan. Party leaders assert that they will not cease their demonstrations unless directed by Khan himself.
Sharif criticized the opposition party, stating that the PTI has contributed nothing but chaos and division during its time in power. He emphasized that the PTI failed to return wealth to the country or tackle corruption, despite these being key pledges in their election manifesto.