Pakistan’s Chief Justice to skip SCO meeting in India due to ‘unavoidable commitments

Pakistan will not be participating in the meeting of chief justices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), scheduled to be held in New Delhi from March 10 to 12, 2023.In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “As one of the active members of the SCO, Pakistan regularly participates in all SCO activities and constructively contributes to their outcomes.”

Due to his unavoidable commitments on the scheduled meeting dates, the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan will not be able to participate in the SCO meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts scheduled from 10-12 March 2023.

He has accordingly conveyed his regrets to his Indian counterpart, who is the current chair/host of the meeting,” the statement added.According to the Express Tribune, an invitation from India to attend the event was received by the Pakistani chief justice.

The Shehbaz Sharif-led country is now the only nation that would skip the SCO Chief Justice meet hosted by India. All other members, including the new member, Iran, will be attending the meeting in person.India has also invited Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the SCO foreign ministers meeting to be held in Goa in May this year. However, Pakistan is yet to decide whether the foreign minister will attend.

India is the current president of the SCO, which also comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.As president of the regional forum, India is set to host a series of events, including the meeting of chief justices of the member states.

India is expected to hold the transport, culture, defence ministers meeting in April.Meanwhile, the foreign ministers meeting in Goa is expected to be held in May and a summit on 25 June in Delhi.India is the chair of both G20 and SCO groupings this year.