Pakistan deploys army for security of upcoming regional summit in Islamabad

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan has deployed the army to ensure the security of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, set for Oct. 15-16, the Interior Ministry confirmed late Friday.

The deployment comes at the request of local authorities in Islamabad, the federal government said.

"The government is pleased to authorize deployment of requisite strength of Pakistan Army in aid of civil power from 5th to 17th October, 2024 in ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory), for maintaining law and order with respect to the 23rd meeting of SCO Council of Heads of Government and visits of VVIP delegations for the said meeting," read a statement from the Interior Ministry.

State-run Pakistan Television reported that the army has already taken charge of security as of Friday night, with army convoys seen moving toward Islamabad from the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The security measures come at a tense time, with ongoing clashes in the capital between police and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Protesters are demanding Khan's release from prison, where he is being held in Rawalpindi. Despite the courts having overturned two of his convictions and suspended a third, Khan remains in jail as he faces charges ranging from corruption to terrorism, all of which he denies.

The clashes between PTI supporters and police continued as of the time of reporting.

Khan, 72, was ousted from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.