Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar asked on Sunday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to withdraw its protest call on October 15 during the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Speaking to media flanked by Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar, Dar lamented the boycott of the PTI during the All-Parties Conference (APC) pertaining to expressing solidarity with Palestine. “The PTI should withdraw its protest call on October 15 for the sake of the national interests,” he said.
He took a swipe at the embattled PTI, saying, “One political party has staged the protest in 2014, due to which the Chinese premier’s visit to Pakistan was delayed for a year.”
“Now the same party [PTI] is looking to sabotage the SCO,” he said.
Recalling the events that transpired on May 9, last year, Dar said: “Every one of us had seen that what had happened on May 9. Pakistan should be the priority for all of us.”
“There is plenty of time to stage the political protest. However, the next three days are important for the country.
Highlighting the Indian foreign minister to Pakistan, Dar said: “The Indian foreign minister is visiting Pakistan as the SCO member. We have received no request from the Indian foreign minister for holding the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”
“Some of the representatives from the different countries have requested to hold the bilateral meeting with PM Shehbaz,” Dar added.
He maintained: “It’s been after 27 years that Pakistan is having the honor to host the big forum. We are looking forward to taking up the responsibility of hosting the SCO with great verve and hospitality.”
Meanwhile, Dar and Tarar had also reviewed the preparations in connection with the all-important SCO meeting.
Separately, it was reported that the preparations in connection with the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) had entered the final stage.
Sources divulged on Sunday that the arrival of the representatives from various countries for the staff-level negotiations had also been started.
It is expected that the negotiations at the ministerial-level will begin on October 15.
The delegations will be reached tomorrow for ministerial-level negotiations.
