Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar rejected on Saturday "any attempt to equate criticism of individuals with criticism of the institution.
The former minister’s remarks came in response to the military's media wing issuing a statement following deposed prime minister Imran Khan's address after surviving an assassination bid.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) maintained in its statement that the “allegations” levelled by the PTI chief against the institution and particularly a senior army officer were absolutely unacceptable and uncalled for, terming them “baseless and irresponsible”.
In a series of tweets, Umar stated that “the ISPR's statement of yesterday has made unfounded allegations against Imran Khan. He has never spoken against the institution”.
The ISPR statement of yesterday has made unfounded allegations against Imran Khan. He has never spoken against the institution. Infact has always spoken about the need to strengthen the institution. Criticism of individuals should NOT be called criticism of institution
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 5, 2022
He maintained that Imran had always spoken about the need to strengthen the institution.
“Criticism of individuals should NOT be called criticism of institution,” he said.
He asked the ISPR that “if no member of the institution does anything wrong, why are court martials carried out”, adding that “even general officers have been court martialed in the past”.
Question for ISPR :If no member of the institution does anything wrong, why are court martials carried out. Even general officers have been court martialed in the past. If they do carry out acts which can be subject to court martial why cannot they be criticized as individuals?
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 5, 2022
“If they do carry out acts which can be subject to court martial, why cannot they be criticized as individuals?” he questioned.
He stated that the institution deserved “love and respect based on the sacrifices made by its members to protect the nation”. However, he highlighted that not every individual was “necessarily worthy of that love and respect”.
Any attempt to equate criticism of individuals with criticism of the institution is rejected. The institution deserves love and respect based on the sacrifices made by its members to protect the nation. Each and every individual is not necessarily worthy of that love & respect
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 5, 2022
The PTI leader furthered that if the ISPR wanted to hear “what disrespect for martyrs and the institution sound like, all they have to do is listen to the NA [National Assembly] speech of the “current defense minister where he claims the institution has ripped off the flesh of the nation from its bones”.
If ISPR wants to hear what disrespect for martyrs and the institution sound like, all they have to do is listen to the famous NA speech of the current defense minister where he claims the institution has ripped off the flesh of the nation from its bones!!!
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 5, 2022
Call to protest
Earlier, in a separate tweet Umar called on PTI supporters to gather for protest in all cities across Pakistan at 5 pm today, adding that the protest site for each city would be announced by the local party units.
“Let’s show them that no one can suppress a truly free nation,” he said.
He further said that he himself would partake in the protest at Liberty Chowk in Lahore.
کل پانچ بجے پاکستان کے تمام شہروں میں احتجاجی اجتماع ہوں گے. ہر شہر کی احتجاج کی جگہ کا اعلان مقامی تنظیمیں کریں گی. ان کو دکھائیں حقیقی طور پر آزاد قوم کو کوئی دبا نہیں سکتا. میں خود لبرٹی چوک لاہور میں احتجاج میں شرکت کروں گا
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 4, 2022
PTI Vice Chairperson Shah Mehmood Qureshi also reiterated the party’s call for protest, stating that “a peaceful” protest will be recorded across the country” at 5 pm today.
He maintained that the people of Pakistan were a nation “alive” and the “bullet that hit Imran Khan was actually a heinous conspiracy to harm the honour of this nation”.
“This nation will not sit quietly,” he said, adding that he would be present at the protest in Liberty Chowk, Lahore.
آج شام 5 بجے ملک بھر میں پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف پر امن احتجاج ریکارڈ کروائے گی۔ ہم زندہ قوم ہیں اور جو گولی عمران خان کو لگی ھے وہ دراصل اس قوم کی غیرت مجروح کرنے کی گھناؤنی سازش ھے۔ یہ قوم چپ نہیں بیٹھے گی۔
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 5, 2022
آپ سب سے لبرٹی چوک لاہور میں ملاقات ہوگی۔
PTI leaders booked
Three cases have been registered in an Islamabad police station against PTI leaders following riots in Faizabad a day earlier. The PTI supporters had gathered at Faizabad and various other locations in different cities to protest the assassination attempt on party chief Imran Khan.
According to a police complaint, 24 accused have been named in a case filed in the I-9 police station, including PTI leaders Ali Ahmed Awan, Amir Mehmood Kayani, Wasif Qayyum and Chaudhry Shoaib.
The police alleged that the accused resisted them and attacked their officials as well as the Frontier Corps’ (FC) with sticks and stones, injuring nine FC and five police personnel. They further claimed that they damaged public property.
At least 30 protestors arrested a day earlier remain detained.
ISPR rejects Imran’s statement
Hours after former premier Imran Khan addressed the nation, the miliary said that “allegations” levelled by the “PTI chairman” against the institution and particularly a senior army officer are absolutely unacceptable and uncalled for, terming them "baseless and irresponsible".
"Pakistan army prides itself for being an extremely professional and well-disciplined organisation with a robust and highly effective internal accountability system applicable across the board for unlawful acts, if any, committed by uniformed personnel," read a statement issued by the ISPR.
However, it added, THAT if the honour, safety and prestige of its rank and file is being tarnished by vested interests through frivolous allegations, the "institution will jealousy safeguard its officers and soldiers no matter what".
Earlier, Imran said three people — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a military official — were behind his assassination plot.
“Would you allow this military official to be probed in this case,” Imran asked COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He also asked the army chief to take action against the senior army officer to protect the dignity of the institution.
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