ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to stay away from meeting of Chief Justices of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from March 10 to 12.

India is current President of SCO, which also comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. As President of regional forum, India is set to host series of events, including meeting of Chief Justices of member states.

India extended invitation to Pakistani Chief Justice, but Islamabad took decision at last minute about country’s top adjudicator. “As one of active members of SCO, Pakistan regularly participates in all SCO activities and constructively contributes to their outcomes,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in statement here.

“Due to his unavoidable commitments on scheduled meeting dates, Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan will not be able to participate in SCO meeting of Chief Justices of Supreme Courts. He has accordingly conveyed his regrets to his Indian counterpart, who is current chair/host of meeting,” statement added. Though Foreign Office statement cited unavoidable commitments of chief justice, observers believe that current state of relationship between Pakistan and India played part in Islamabad’s decision.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 10 2023

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