PTI rejects DG ISPR’s claims, labels remarks ‘politically charged’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja along with Aleema Khan. SCREENGRAB/ File
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) responded to the chief military spokesperson's press briefing, calling his remarks ‘politically charged’.
In a statement posted on X, the party said attempts were being made to cast doubt on PTI, despite the fact that under its government, Pakistan had improved four ranks in the Global Terrorism Index, moving to ninth place. “In the past three and a half years, Pakistan has fallen from ninth to second in the index,” it added.
The party’s statement concluded by criticising the DG ISPR for ridiculing a provincial leader who has made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism at a time when Pakistan continues to face mounting threats.
In another post, the party described it as “two back-to-back political press conferences” and said all that was achieved was a response from Pakistanis, who shared past clips and data points countering the claims. PTI said the press conference was “totally rejected.”
Separately, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, responded to the DG ISPR’s remarks linking the rise in terrorism to K-P government policies, calling the claim “shameful.” She asked, “Which of our people are supporting terrorism? It is not right to speak this way about patriotic Pakistanis.”
Aleema Khan says those accusing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should be ashamed. They are labeling patriotic Pakistanis as “supporters of terrorism.”
Under Imran Khan’s government, terrorism was at its lowest. Those making these claims must explain why it has surged now.… pic.twitter.com/JAFZ14VVbkPTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja described the DG ISPR’s remarks as a failed attempt to create a narrative. “People know the truth; you cannot fool everyone all the time. This attempt should stop. People understand why terrorism exists,” he said.
He further recalled that a jirga had been convened a month ago in the K-P Assembly, attended by representatives from every district and political group. “Everyone spoke openly, and it is clear to all why there is terrorism, why there is unrest, and why there has been bloodshed in K-P. You cannot hide behind your own rigid statements,” he said.
Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan also criticised the briefing, questioning its democratic legitimacy. “What kind of democratic system is this in which the DG ISPR shows the media pictures and speeches of the leadership of a single province and party, engages in political commentary against them, and issues threats?” he asked.
یہ کیسا جمہوری نظام ہے جس میں ڈی جی آئی ایس پی آر اپنے پریس بریفنگ میں میڈیا کو ایک صوبے اور ایک پارٹی کے لیڈرشپ کی تصویریں اور تقریریں دکھارہا ہے اور ان کیخلاف سیاسی گفتگو کرتا ہے اور دھمکیاں دیتا ہے؟؟؟
یہ کس قانون کے تحت ہورہا ہے؟؟کس حلف کے تحت ہورہا ہے؟؟؟
یہ نہ جمہوری نظام ہے…Earlier, the DG ISPR said that 80 per cent of all terrorist incidents in the country have occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He attributed the trend to what he described as a 'politically permissive environment' for militants and an emerging 'nexus between political and militant elements' in the province.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the chief military spokesperson said the prevailing environment had enabled extremist groups to organise, build facilitation networks and repeatedly challenge the writ of the state, with implications for the country’s overall security situation.
During the briefing, the DG ISPR strongly criticised PTI and its leadership over their stated positions on counterterrorism. He played video clips of senior PTI leaders, including the K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, and displayed screenshots of statements attributed to PTI founder Imran Khan, questioning what he termed their narrative on the fight against terrorism.