Traders and analysts on Sunday expressed “grave concerns” over PTI’s call to protest ahead of the highly anticipated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) moot on October 15, urging the party’s leadership to reconsider the move.
The PTI has announced the suspension of its protests in Punjab and issued a nationwide call urging party leaders and workers to converge in Islamabad on Oct 15. The party has also demanded immediate access for party leaders and family members to its founder, Imran Khan, who is incarcerated in Adiala Jail.
The government earlier banned visits to prisoners at Adiala Jail until Oct 18 due to security concerns related to the high-profile SCO summit.
Talking to state-owned PTV, analysts criticised PTI’s protest call during the SCO Summit as “self-destructive,” citing concerns over economic instability and damage to Pakistan’s global image.
The business community in Islamabad stressed that the SCO conference was an important platform to promote regional trade and hoped that PTI would reconsider the decision to protest for the country’s national interest.
