Pakistani Army Deployed in Islamabad for SCO Summit

The Pakistani government has deployed the army in Islamabad from October 5 to 17 to maintain law and order ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which will host several foreign dignitaries. This decision follows calls for protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in support of its jailed leader, Imran Khan, leading to clashes between police and protesters. Authorities have prepared the capital by blocking entrance points with shipping containers, suspending mobile services, and enforcing Section 144 to prohibit gatherings. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the need to prevent disruptions during the summit and criticized the timing of the protests. The deployment comes under Article 245 of the Constitution and is seen as a response to ongoing unrest in the capital. Authorities have already arrested thousands of Khan's supporters in anticipation of the protests.