Khawaja Saad Rafique, a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), has publicly criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for planning protests during the arrival of foreign dignitaries. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he condemned the party’s actions, which he described as a troubling tradition within PTI.
Referring to media reports about PTI’s planned protest during the Shanghai Cooperation Conference on October 15, Rafique warned that such disruptions could lead to confrontations between PTI supporters and law enforcement. He emphasized the need to avoid chaos and protect Pakistan’s image, stating, “Creating conflicts during the arrival of foreign dignitaries is a long-standing tradition of PTI.”
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Rafique urged PTI to withdraw its protest call and proposed that the government facilitate a meeting between PTI leaders and Imran Khan to address their grievances. He noted that even if a meeting occurred, PTI might still find reasons to protest, advocating for a resolution to their issues instead of confrontation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also weighed in, expressing his commitment to preventing a repeat of PTI’s disruptive protests, particularly referencing the party’s prolonged sit-in in 2014. He condemned the timing of the protests, suggesting they were strategically planned to coincide with important diplomatic visits, undermining Pakistan’s interests with key allies.
The recent political landscape has seen PTI mobilizing for a large-scale protest at D-Chowk, focusing their efforts amid ongoing challenges. The PTI political committee has been actively rallying support while expressing concerns for Imran Khan’s welfare and criticizing the current government’s legitimacy.
