Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called for de-escalation and giving space to each other, saying the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general’s press conference left him “disappointed”.
His remarks come hours after ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry lambasted PTI founder Imran Khan and the party in a fiery press conference for promoting “anti-army’s rhetoric”.
“I have always hoped for reduced tensions and improved relations. Today, ISPR’s press conference has left me disappointed,” he wrote in a post on X.
While he acknowledged that the country’s defence was important, Barrister Gohar said that “PTI’s narrative has never been, nor will ever be, anti-state.”
“It is regrettable when state institutions and political figures label each other as mentally ill or consider them threats.”
Pakistan and its armed forces “belong to all of us”, he said, adding the PTI had demonstrated its commitment to the country and would continue to do so.
Gohar emphasised that all sides must acknowledge one another, create space, and work to end the trust deficit. He cautioned that actions by certain non-stakeholders should not further strain PTI’s ties with state institutions.
He further noted, “The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are in jail. If they are allowed meetings, we can move towards reconciliation. The country cannot bear further tension and unrest.”
His call for calm comes following an over two-hour-long press conference by the ISPR DG, where he labelled the PTI founder “mentally ill” and a national security threat.
The military’s spokesperson slammed the former premier for working with “external elements, spreading disinformation, provoking unrest and persistently targeting the armed forces”.
“His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says if not me, then nothing,” he said while referring to the PTI founder.
Lt Gen Chaudhry stated that the former premier promoted a “scientific system” of coordinated troll activity, driven narratives through his own social media accounts, and repeatedly likened himself to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He added that Indian, Afghan and some international media amplified the PTI founder’s messaging, with troll networks abroad boosting content in synchronised cycles.
Hours after the ISPR chief’s presser, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced a complete ban on meetings with the jailed PTI founder at Adiala jail.
Speaking during a program on a private TV channel, the information minister said that the former prime minister was an “extremist” driven by war hysteria.
“There are no meetings; all meetings are banned,” he added.
Tarar also announced plans for registering cases against those creating narratives against the country.
“They now have no future; their political space and narrative will be restricted,” he added. –Agencies
