Political leaders slam PTI, throw weight behind armed forces

Veteran politicians belonging to various parties have come out in support of the armed forces, while denouncing the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leaders.

The development comes a couple of days after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry held a drawn-out press conference, mainly targetting incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and his party’s governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In his presser, the DG ISPR had lambasted the PTI supporters for carrying out slanderous social media campaign against the armed forces, stressing that the military should be set apart from politics.

In a press conference, Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar alleged that the jailed “mental patient”, who committed a 190 million pound “robbery”, has never been honest in his life, and has been living off money taken from people through fraud. He further alleged that this “mental patient” destroyed the country’s economy.

The PTI rally in Peshawar today was also a miserable failure, Minister Tarar added

He maintained that in the Ma’raka-e-Haq, the Pakistan Army inflicted a historic defeat on India, and India is still afraid of the Pakistan Army today. He said these people should be ashamed to speak ill of the army. He recalled that during the “mental patient’s” tenure, when India attacked, he [Imran Khan] asked, “What should I do?”

The minister stated: “I tell him, those who had to attack have shown they can.” He said the sisters of this person speak against the Pakistan Army on Indian media, adding that they should be ashamed.

One individual believes his desires greater than state of Pakistan: DG ISPR

Tarar said that these people speak against our martyrs on their social media accounts. He stated that it has been proven that they do not care about the interest of Pakistan; they only want the gratification of their personal ego.

“These people only want their political interests to be advanced and desire to remain in power forever,” he said. He alleged that when questioned about corruption, they say the army is bad. He said they speak ill of the army to hide their own failures.

MQM-P chairman calls for national unity against ‘proxies’

Addressing a crowded press conference at the party headquarters in Bahadurabad, Karachi, alongside senior central leaders including Syed Mustafa Kamal, Dr Farooq Sattar, Anees Ahmed Qaimkhani, Syed Aminul Haque, and others, Chairman of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui stated that Pakistan currently stands at a crucial juncture in its history.

He noted that political crises persist in one form or another, and the beloved country cannot afford any further political instability.

Siddiqui said that the risks of foreign interference in Pakistan’s political affairs are becoming evident. He demanded that the government keep a close watch on the campaign being run against the country and take action against those involved.

The MQM-P, he said, invites all political parties to come together to discuss this matter. He said it is the responsibility of political parties to identify those who are harming the country. He noted that one particular political party has been unable to stick to its narrative.

He said: “This year, we have already inflicted a decisive defeat on India; now we will defeat its proxy as well.”

Kamal criticised the PTI leadership, accusing them of actively trying to demoralise the national armed forces by running a campaign of defamation across the world.

Gohar appeals for defusing tensions after ISPR briefing

“The army does not belong to any single party; it belongs to the entire nation. It was the army that stood against a power eight times its size, shattering India’s dream of regional hegemony, and Allah (SWT) used the army to enhance Pakistan’s honour,” he stated.

Kamal asserted that the MQM-Pakistan rejects the narrative that suggests a rift exists between the army and the people. He urged PTI members to reconsider their policies, saying: “If military generals work according to your will, they are considered correct; otherwise, they are deemed wrong. This attitude is regrettable.”

Kamal said: “Be thankful that the army is only holding press conferences to expose your misdeeds. Despite such slanderous allegations, the army is only talking to you.”

On the other hand, speaking to media in Islamabad, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti paid tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces. The chief minister said the military demonstrated its strength and professionalism during the war with India in May this year. He remarked that the conflict exposed India’s true face to the world and showcased the capability of Pakistan’s forces to confront and overcome an enemy seven times larger.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi today, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi emphasised the need for firm action against any narrative that threatens national unity and stability.

He said that the martyrs of Pakistan laid down their lives to put the country on the path of peace and development, and the nation stands united in saluting their sacrifices.

Abbasi said that Pakistan is reclaiming its rightful place in the international community due to the sacrifices of its martyrs and the unwavering commitment of the armed forces.

The minister criticised PTI and its founder for their attempts to create instability through an anti-state narrative. He said such campaigns target the country’s institutions and will not be tolerated.