ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army and police personnel check motorcyclists on the Constitution Avenue as security has been put on high alert in Red Zone ahead of the SCO summit, on Sunday.—Mohammad Asim / White Star
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army and police personnel check motorcyclists on the Constitution Avenue as security has been put on high alert in Red Zone ahead of the SCO summit, on Sunday.—Mohammad Asim / White Star

• Over 10,000 law enforcers deployed for security; offices, markets, educational institutions, metro bus service shut
• Dar urges PTI to call off its protest plan
• Bilateral talks with several states on the card

ISLAMABAD: Foreign dignitaries started arriving in Islamabad for preparatory meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit as Pakistan prepares to host the 23rd summit of the bloc on Oct 15 and 16 amid stringent security measures.

Informed sources told Dawn that a four-member delegation from India, 76 delegates from Russia, 15 representatives of China, a two-member team from Iran and a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan reached Islamabad on Sunday.

Seven delegates of SCO also arrived in the capital.

The Army has already been called in to provide security for the event. As part of its duties, it will also oversee security of key government buildings and Red Zone.

Rangers have already been deployed in the capital.

Moreover, the federal government has deployed over 10,000 police personnel for the security of about 900 delegates.

The metro bus service in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will remain suspended during the summit, and the government has announced three days’ holidays for public offices, educational institutions, and commercial centres in Islamabad.

All marriage halls will also remain closed to ensure smooth proceedings of the summit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Sunday all arrangements had been made to host the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of SCO meeting.

Talking to reporters after his visit to review arrangements made for the meeting, Mr Dar said certain countries excluding India had requested for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CHG-SCO which were finalised.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar accompanied the deputy PM during a walk with reporters to provide them with first-hand information about preparations for the summit.

Mr Dar urged PTI to call off its protest plan on Oct 15 in the larger national interest.

He said it is not good for the PTI to repeat the scenario of 2014. He recalled that due to the PTI’s protest at that time, the Chinese president’s visit had been postponed.

The PTI, he pointed out, also stayed away from the recent multi-party conference on Gaza, wondering what message it wanted to give to people through these actions.

Mr Dar said PTI had “crossed all red lines in the past and attacked state institutions”. He stressed the PTI leadership to rectify its decision and call off their protest on Oct 15 in the larger national interest.

About invitation to Afghanistan, he said that since 2021, the Observers Status of the country had virtually been suspended as Afghanistan had neither been invited to nor participated in the SCO meetings.

Therefore, he added, Pakistan could not take a decision alone in this regard as the decisions were taken on the SCO forum by member states.

The deputy prime minister said the entire region required integration and peace and it is the core objective of the PML-N leadership.

The foreign minister advised those who talk about Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation to reassess their position as the country had become the hub of regional trade and investment and referred to recent visits of Malaysian prime minister and the Saudi delegation in this regard.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024

Opinion

Beefing up security

Beefing up security

The issue lies not in the sincerity and dedication of Pakistan’s law enforcement but in their capacity and access to effective surveillance equipment.

Editorial

Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...
Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...