PTI claims attempts underway to set biggest party against major institution

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed strong disappointment over comments made by the Pakistan Army spokesperson a day earlier, calling the language “inappropriate” and harmful to democratic norms.

The statement came a day after the director general of the military’s media wing, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, on Friday assailed incarcerated former premier Imran Khan, calling him a “threat to national security” and warning that no one would be allowed to incite the public against the armed forces.

Speaking at a news conference in Rawalpindi, the ISPR chief said Khan’s “anti-army” rhetoric had crossed the limits of politics and now posed a direct threat to the nation’s security. He added that the military had deemed it necessary to confront the “creeping national security threat.”

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, Gohar said a major institution’s senior official using such words — even indirectly — for a large political party, its leadership, or the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was unfortunate for democracy. He said the statements made in the press briefing were “very disappointing” and the language used “not appropriate.”

Gohar stressed that PTI did not intend to heighten tensions. “This press conference is not for confrontation. But we want to make clear that some people appear to be trying to create conflict between the workers of a major political party and personnel of a major state institution. This must not happen.”

Read: Military calls Imran’s narrative ‘threat to national security’

Throughout the press conference, PTI leaders said they did not seek confrontation or political instability. Gohar said “Some people want fights. We do not. We want dialogue, humility, and space.”

Despite what he described as serious allegations, Gohar said the party would not retaliate with aggression. “We are not going to respond to a brick with a stone, but we need to tell the public what has happened to us.”

He said PTI believed that “any destruction begins with the utterance of a few inappropriate words,” urging humility and space for dialogue. He added that meetings with Khan were not being allowed and cases concerning him were not being heard. “Our narrative has moved from ‘free Imran Khan’ to ‘allow us to meet him.’”

Detailing political grievances, he said “With 180 seats, we were made to sit on 91. Our own seat was taken away. The founding chairman always said the country is ours and the army is ours. In times of war, we always stood with the army. After all this, we still thought things would improve.”

‘Country pushed into coercion’

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said Pakistan had repeatedly witnessed “dark moments” where the state resorted to coercive measures. “We were told that this country needs the stick to progress, but we know what happened — in Karachi, bodies were found in bags.”

He said the region was marked by conflict and militarisation but lacked welfare, while Pakistan had persistently faced narratives that democracy was unsuitable. “Every time authoritarianism came, it left Pakistan weaker. Where does Pakistan stand today?”

Raja said the global order was shifting and countries were being “pushed to choose between powerful states — one side China and the other the United States,” though Pakistan had not benefitted from such pressures. “Has Pakistan moved forward through coercion? The elite only became richer.”

He criticised what he described as efforts to undermine the judiciary and the legal community, pointing to cases against PTI lawyers. “How can an officer be a substitute for an independent judiciary?” he asked, noting that despite having a constitution, Pakistan had been left behind.

Also Read: Tarar rules out negotiations with PTI, no dialogue unless they apologise

Raja said the Supreme Court granted PTI reserved seats but “it was then turned into a district court.” He questioned whether this was the purpose for which Pakistan was created. “Quaid-e-Azam always told the military leadership not to engage in politics.”

He said PTI’s demands had shifted from seeking Khan’s release to merely requesting permission for a meeting. “If this continues, democracy will be ruined.”

‘K-P feels insulted’

Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser rejected any portrayal of Khan as a security threat. “If someone says Khan’s name will be erased or he is a security risk, I condemn it,” he said.

He said the military spokesperson’s remarks had caused deep resentment in K-P. “We will demand that those words be withdrawn. The entire province feels insulted.”

Qaiser said he had taught many students now serving in the armed forces and other institutions, underscoring that PTI wanted to see a strong military. “Soldiers and police officers are being martyred daily. We do not want chaos. Our demand is democracy.”

He said PTI leaders continued to face imprisonment. “Sixty-four thousand FIRs registered and thirty-four thousand arrests,” he claimed, adding that the party’s seats had been “given to another party.” Criticising restrictions on meetings with PTI leaders, he said “Those who say meetings will not be allowed — who are you? The people have rejected you.”

Read: Government extends dialogue offer to PTI

Qaiser demanded the immediate release of Khan and other detained leaders and criticised constitutional amendments that he said had “paralysed the courts.” He confirmed that the opposition alliance had agreed to convene a national conference.

Raja said Pakistan could not progress unless the people’s voice resonated inside parliament. “We are not here to respond to yesterday’s press conference. We will not respond in kind,” he said.

Qaiser added that PTI remained the country’s largest political force and essential for national progress. “Without us, no challenge can be overcome. Institutions and the people must move forward together. We do not want unrest in the country.”