Shaikh Waqas Akram said that the first phase of the civil disobedience movement is ongoing, and it is aimed at Pakistanis living abroad. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government would not move against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf UK as an organisation but would pursue legal action against specific individuals involved in incitement and threats, if necessary, under UK law, according to the minister of state for interior.
“We will not go after PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] UK, but we will target the individuals involved,” Talal Chaudhry told The Express Tribune here, clarifying the government’s position while responding to questions about possible legal steps in the United Kingdom.
The controversy arose after the now-deleted clip, uploaded from PTI UK’s verified account, showed a woman addressing protesters outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford and referring to the army chief in the context of a possible car bomb attack, language the government says crossed the line from political criticism into a suggestion of violence.
The Pakistani government formally raised the matter with British authorities.
The move followed Islamabad’s decision to summon Acting British High Commissioner Matt Cannell on Friday, where the Foreign Office handed over a demarche condemning what it described as “incitement to violence” from UK soil.
Pakistan urged London to investigate the incident and initiate legal action under British law.
Talal said that Pakistan had already received a response from UK authorities, who conveyed that if any actionable matter existed, relevant material should be provided and it would be dealt with in accordance with UK law.
He reiterated that the issue was not related to freedom of expression or political disagreement. “This is not about expanded freedom of speech, nor is it a political consultation. Threats against the army chief do not fall under freedom of expression,” he said, adding that there was no concept of absolute or unchecked freedom anywhere in the world.
Referring to international law, he said the 2006 Anti-Terrorism Act and UN guidelines clearly prohibit the use of a sovereign country’s soil for terrorism or for inciting violent activities against another state. Such actions, he added, were also covered under the UN Charter.
The minister further pointed to PTI’s past record, including the events of May 9, stating that there was a documented history of incitement and violence linked to the party.
He warned that if the UK authorities failed to take action, Pakistan would pursue legal remedies within the UK system. “This is not a trivial matter. It is a criminal issue that cannot be resolved through condemnation alone and requires strict legal action,” Talal stressed.
Meanwhile, in a statement on X, PTI UK confirmed it had deleted the video, describing the woman’s comments as “metaphorical remarks” about the army chief.
While the party said it did not believe the individual had directly called for violence, it said the content was removed “in an abundance of caution to prevent potential misunderstanding”.
Pakistani officials say the video and its transcript have been shared with British authorities, alongside a formal complaint accusing the speaker and those who amplified the footage of incitement to terrorism and destabilisation.
PTI UK stressed it does not endorse unlawful behaviour and urged supporters to exercise restraint in public speech. The Bradford protest was part of a series of overseas demonstrations organised by PTI supporters in solidarity with jailed party founder Imran Khan, featuring slogans critical of Pakistan’s establishment.
Information Secretary PTI Sheikh Waqas Akram also clarified the party’s position. In an X statement, he said, “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf clarifies that the speech delivered by a woman during a protest in the United Kingdom has no association whatsoever with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The individual in question does not hold any official position within the party. The views expressed do not reflect PTI’s stance, values, or political philosophy. PTI fundamentally and unequivocally opposes violence, incitement, hate speech, and the use of offensive language.”
While the original video has been removed, screenshots and reposted clips continue to circulate online and have been cited by Pakistani authorities in correspondence with London.
The episode adds to already strained ties between PTI and the establishment. It also reflects Islamabad’s broader effort to curb overseas-based critics targeting state institutions, even as Britain weighs how far diaspora political speech is protected before it triggers criminal scrutiny under counterterrorism laws.
