Pakistan to Host SCO Heads of Governments Meeting in October

Pakistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Governments’ Meeting in October, according to Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. The announcement was made during her weekly media briefing on Thursday.

“Pakistan holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), which is the SCO’s second-highest decision-making forum. In this capacity, Pakistan will be hosting the SCO Heads of Governments Meeting in October this year,” Ms. Baloch stated.

The two-day event is scheduled for October 15-16 and will include a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings focusing on financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states.

Ms. Baloch confirmed that Pakistan will extend invitations to all heads of governments of SCO member states for the summit, which will be held in person. This gathering is significant as it brings together leaders from across the region to discuss and collaborate on crucial issues affecting member countries.

During the briefing, Ms. Baloch also addressed a recent report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which labeled the detention of former prime minister Imran Khan as “arbitrary”. The Foreign Office spokesperson dismissed the report as “unwarranted” and based on an incomplete understanding of Pakistan’s legal system.

“I will not go into the motives of any organisation or any country on the recent reports or statements they have made,” Ms. Baloch said. “However, I would like to underline that a report on any particular case is unwarranted when it lacks objectivity and is based on incomplete and inaccurate understanding of Pakistan’s legal and judicial system,” she added.

The UN report criticized the detention of Imran Khan, suggesting that it violated international norms and appeared intended to disqualify him from running for political office. It concluded that Khan’s detention lacked a legal basis and was reportedly instrumentalized for a political purpose. The UN group called for Khan’s immediate release and urged reforms to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in 2022, has been embroiled in multiple legal battles since his departure, facing charges ranging from corruption to incitement. Ms. Baloch emphasized that Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees the rights and freedoms of all citizens, supported by an independent judiciary.

“Pakistan is a vibrant democracy with robust institutions in place for dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law,” she stated. Ms. Baloch defended the country’s legal processes, noting that there are adequate avenues and mechanisms for seeking justice and redressal of grievances. “The courts of Pakistan adjudicate questions of law as per Pakistani laws and they will determine the innocence or otherwise of any individual under trial,” she concluded.

As Pakistan prepares to host the SCO Heads of Governments Meeting, the international community will be watching closely. The event presents an opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its regional ties and address significant economic, social, and political issues.