ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over a press conference by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), accusing him of making political remarks.
In a statement, the PTI said that in a constitutional and democratic state, it was regrettable for a military spokesperson to directly criticise an elected provincial government, a major political party and its leadership.
Such comments, it said, risked raising political tensions and questioning the balance of the state system.
It also objected to the suggestion that opposition to a possible military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amounted to support for militants.
It recalled that a grand peace jirga convened by the provincial government on November 12, 2025, was attended by representatives of all major political parties, tribal elders, religious scholars, lawyers and civil society members.
According to the party, participants unanimously agreed that military operations were not a sustainable solution and called instead for a comprehensive national policy for lasting peace. “The collective stance of the province cannot be reduced to the position of a single party or government,” the statement said, adding that such an approach ignored the “consciousness and sacrifices” of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI further expressed shock and sorrow over remarks questioning why militants allegedly did not target the party. It said these comments were contradicted by ground realities, noting that earlier on Thursday a bomb attack targeted the vehicle of PTI leader and former tehsil nazim Fida Mohammad, who survived the attack.
The party said several of its workers and leaders had previously been targeted in militant attacks.
It added that state institutions themselves had issued multiple threat alerts regarding risks to PTI leaders, and recalled that the PTI founder had been seriously injured in an ‘assassination attempt’.
PTI described it as particularly alarming that images and speeches of a provincial leadership and a political party were shown during the briefing, calling it unbecoming of a key national defence institution.
Reiterating its position, the PTI said it opposed terrorism, believed in the supremacy of the Constitution and was willing to cooperate with all state institutions within the law. However, it warned that taking political disagreements to press conferences could push the country towards instability.
The party stressed that terrorism should not be politicised, recalling its consistent condemnation of militant violence and support for the National Action Plan. It said PTI leadership, including former chief ministers, had actively participated in all key meetings on counterterrorism, including apex committee sessions, and that no federal authority or state institution had ever accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of non-cooperation.
“Terrorism does not harm one party alone; it damages the entire country,” the statement said, urging national unity and cautioning against questioning the patriotism of any Pakistani.
It concluded by saying that despite political differences, PTI had always stood with the state on issues of national security, sovereignty and defence.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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