Military calls Imran's narrative 'threat to national security'

DG ISPR vows 'bare-knuckle' response to PTI's rhetoric; Sounds death knell for politics of 'mentally sick' Imran

ISLAMABAD:

The chief military spokesperson 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 public against the armed forces.

Khan's "anti-army" rhetoric has crossed the limits of politics and now poses a direct threat to the nation's security, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said at a news conference in Rawalpindi. He added that the military has deemed necessary to confront the "creeping national security threat."

"Who are you? What message do you want to give? Who do you think you are?" quipped Lt Gen Chaudhry addressing Khan. He described Khan as a "sick person" and maintained, "They [PTI] have a comical obsession with Pakistan Army. They don't talk about real issues, and that is their entire politics."

"We cannot allow them to establish the business of fake news and lies in the country," the military spokesperson said, adding that a dangerous narrative is being propagated. "This narrative that the military is the state is false. The military is not the state; the government is supreme."

Lt Gen Chaudhry stated that the PTI's narrative relied heavily on sensationalism, disinformation and a systematic distortion of facts - elements that were further amplified by influencers allegedly aligned with the party and boosted by Indian and Afghan social media ecosystems. "Under which law, rule, or constitutional provision can this be permitted? Lt Gen Chaudhry questioned.

"That threat emanates from a delusional mindset of a delusional person who has become captive to his own ego, thinking that his wishes are bigger than those of the state of Pakistan," the military spokesperson said, in an apparent reference to Khan. "His ego, his wishes, and frustrations have grown to such an extent that he thinks the world would cease to exist without him."

The DG ISPR added that it would be "a bit strange to see it coming from me, but the narrative that person is pushing is no more about politics now but has become a matter of national security."

According to Lt Gen Chaudhry, it was "very important" for the military's media wing to clarify, remove all ambiguities and doubts, and say what needs to be said. "We need to understand how this narrative is working, and unfortunately, how it is working in deep collusion with external actors."

"To understand that, first, I will set the stage by repeating something that the armed forces have been saying again and again, that we are the armed forces of Pakistan, we don't represent any ethnicity, don't represent any language, religious inclination, political thought or school of thought. We have people from all areas of Pakistan, all religions, all sects, all languages, and all political views, but we put all that aside once we wear this uniform.

"That is our pride, that is our honour; we strive, we die daily not for some language, area or political viewpoint. We strive and die on a daily basis for the people of Pakistan, for the integrity of Pakistan. And that we say very clearly, and we also don't come from the elite class of Pakistan, we belong to the middle, lower-middle, and the poor socio-economic classes; we do not carry the flag of any political actor, class or elitism; This is your armed forces, and we are absolutely clear about the character of the armed forces of Pakistan, starting from a soldier all the way up to his field marshal," he said.

The military spokesperson added that if someone attacked the armed forces and its leadership for the sake of their ego, delusional mindset and narcissistic way of thinking, "then we will also come and fight bare-knuckle, there should be no doubt about that," he said.

"That is why we request again and again, you must be doing your politics. We respect all political parties and personalities, but please keep your politics away from the armed forces of Pakistan; don't drag us into it. We don't want to be part of your politics. That is why we need to communicate a few things clearly."

Lt Gen Chaudhry then pointed out ways in which Khan's rhetoric was harming the armed forces.

"First, no one can be allowed to create fissures between the people and the armed forces of Pakistan. Why? Because this is the only armed force that you have. You don't have a choice; this country doesn't have any other armed forces. You can have an opinion or observation about the forces, and if that could be a constructive observation or criticism, you are most welcome to do that. But that doesn't allow you to instigate or provoke the people of Pakistan against the army and try to create a gap between the two."

He said that it was the armed forces that were standing between the Hindutva mindset in India and their hegemonic design, and the people of Pakistan.

Continuing his criticism of PTI founder, Lt Gen Chaudhry said that whenever people meet him, he sets aside the law, the Constitution, and rules to push a narrative against Pakistan, particularly targeting the armed forces and its leadership.

The DG ISPR stressed that it is for the government, not the military, to decide whether to restrict meetings at Adiala Jail or take action regarding Khan's social media accounts.

He cautioned that coordinated attempts to create distrust between the armed forces and the Pakistani public through nefarious design would not be tolerated.

The military spokesperson underscored the strategic role of the armed forces in defending the country against both external and internal threats, cautioning that attacks on the military directly weaken national security.

"It is the armed forces," he said, "that stand between the people of Pakistan and the Hindutva-driven hegemonic designs of India". "These same forces stand between the nation and the khawarij, terrorists, the Fitna al-Khawarij, and the Fitna al-Hindustan operating from Afghanistan," he added.

He further elaborated on what he termed PTI's "anti-state agenda", linking its support networks in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to illegal activities, including narcotics trafficking, abductions, extortion and widespread use of non-custom-paid vehicles.

The DG ISPR added that hostile foreign elements were exploiting the PTI's narrative to malign Pakistan internationally, warning that such collaboration - intentional or otherwise - served the interests of adversaries rather than the people of Pakistan.

He reiterated that Pakistan Army remained committed to safeguarding the country and would continue to counter propaganda, misinformation and any attempts to destabilise the state.

"You talk about Article 17 of the Constitution and freedom of expression, it clearly says that freedom of expression and political activity are permitted, subject to reasonable restrictions. Under reasonable restrictions, nothing can be allowed that will be against the security and integrity of the state.

"Article 19 says freedom of expression is allowed, it absolutely is, but such freedom of expression cannot be allowed that goes against the security, integrity and defence of Pakistan. Is it written [in the Constitution] or not? So, under which law, constitution, or rules, when you meet a convict, he spins a narrative against the army and its leadership? This is beyond our understanding."

"He then writes a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), asking it not to enter into any agreement with the country so that the state could default. He then resorts to civil disobedience, doesn't pay electricity bills, so that anarchy is spread in the country. Let me give you another example from a few days ago: He (Imran) tells his followers to target the leadership of the army - the army which stood against an economy and an armed forces eight times bigger than it during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and Marka-i-Haq. And doing so, they gained respect for the nation."

He then questioned who would actually benefit from such a narrative, adding that anyone living in Pakistan could not have such an agenda against the country.

Earlier, he congratulated everyone on the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces. The Chief of Defence Forces has started working. In the current warfare situation, it is necessary to work in a coordinated manner across all sectors including land, air, naval and cyber.

This step was a long-standing need, other countries also have such headquarters. This step on the instructions of parliament is an important milestone in the country's defense.