PTI leadership divided on Oct 15 protest call amid SCO summit

ISLAMABAD: Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Chief Minister KP Ali Ameen Gandapur are among the minority in PTI’s political committee who are against holding a protest at D-Chowk on Oct 15.

Saner elements in PTI are trying to get the protest call withdrawn. They believe it is not in the interest of Pakistan to hold such a protest on the occasion when many foreign dignitaries will be attending the SCO summit in the capital city.

Asad Qaiser, Hamid Khan and Rauf Hasan are also among the minority that believes it is not in the interest of Pakistan to hold such a protest. Ali Muhammad Khan though not a part of the PTI’s political committee, he too is upset with the protest call for Oct 15.

PTI sources said Shehbaz Gill, Hammad Azhar, Khalid Khurshid and Hafiz Farhat are leading the hawkish elements, who prevailed in pursuing the political committee to give a call for protest at the D-Chowk Islamabad for Oct 15 — the first day of the two-day SCO summit.

It sounds unbelievable but a source said a person like Salman Akram Raja also supported the hawkish elements and endorsed the idea of protest in the Red-Zone at a time when the SCO leadership would be meeting within a few kilometres from the protest site. Mr Raja could not be reached for comments. As against him, Ali Amin Gandapur, who in public appears aggressive, voted against the PTI protest on the occasion of SCO summit.

Murad Saeed is not a member of PTI’s political committee, but he is reportedly the first one to tweet on “X” about the protest call. The sources said the likes of Shehbaz Gill and Hammad Azhar use PTI’s social media to target those in the party who resist decisions like holding protest at the D-Chowk on Oct 15 and boycotting the All-Parties Conference.

Those who are trying to get the protest call withdrawn fear any untoward incident or any clash between the PTI supporters and law-enforcing agencies will not be in the interest of Pakistan. It may hurt the SCO summit and upset the high-profile foreign guests, including heads of governments.

Three PTI leaders contacted by The News, on condition of not being named, said they are trying their level best to call off the Oct 15 protest in the interest of Pakistan, and to pay respect to visiting dignitaries. One of these leaders said the ordinary voter of PTI is not happy with the protest call on the occasion of SCO summit.

The source said many people may not join the protest. He, however, admitted even if it is successful, the protest will be in conflict with the interest of Pakistan.