Pakistan set to host SCO summit amid tight security, Chinese Premier Li arrives for bilateral talks

Pakistan is gearing up to host the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting, set to begin on Tuesday in Islamabad. Security has been heightened across the capital due to increased terror threats and ongoing protests from jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has vowed to demonstrate if not allowed to meet Khan.

Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 200 workers of Imran Khan’s party in the Punjab province to thwart its planned protest in Islamabad during the SCO summit. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had announced to hold a demonstration at the D-Chowk in the capital during the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit that is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The two-day SCO summit will see participation from high-profile international leaders, including China's Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, among others. The meeting will focus on enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, environment, and socio-cultural linkages among the SCO member states.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the current chair of the CHG, will preside over the summit. The event has attracted large foreign delegations, including a 76-member team from Russia and a 15-member delegation from China. Meanwhile, authorities have imposed a ban on all political gatherings to prevent disruptions, as tensions run high with PTI’s plans to protest.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit, marking the first by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in 11 years, comes amidst concerns over security following recent attacks on Chinese nationals in Karachi. During his four-day visit, Li is expected to hold discussions with Pakistan's leadership on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other strategic issues, with meetings scheduled with President Asif Ali Zardari and parliamentary leaders. As Islamabad prepares to host this crucial international event, authorities have deployed police, paramilitary forces, and army personnel to ensure peace and security throughout the summit.