Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali Khan on Friday emphasized that the party’s narrative has “never been, nor will it ever be” anti-state, as the party’s official X account doubled down on the commentary highlighted by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director-general during a press conference earlier in the day.
In a nationally televised press conference, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry declared PTI founder Imran Khan “mentally unstable” and accused the party of propagating and promoting an “anti-state” narrative that was subsequently picked up by Indian media.
Reacting to the press conference in a post from his official X account, Gohar said he had hoped that tensions would subside and relations between the PTI and the security establishment improve. “I am disappointed by the ISPR press conference,” he said, stressing the defense of the country was paramount.
“It is regrettable when state institutions and political figures label each other as mentally ill or perceive each other as threats,” he continued, maintain Pakistan and the Army belong “to us.” He called on “everyone” to “acknowledge one another, make space for each other, and eliminate the lack of trust,” and urged pro-democracy forces to play their role in reducing tensions.
“I appeal that the conduct of certain non-stakeholders should not become a cause of tension between PTI and the institutions,” he said, in an apparent reference to PTI supporting social media accounts. “The founder of PTI and Bushra Bibi are in jail; if permission for meetings with them is granted, we will move toward improvement,” he claimed, stressing the country cannot afford such tension and chaos.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, meanwhile, briefly stated: “A disturbed response is not a political strategy.”
Contrary to Gohar’s appeal for peace, however, the party’s official X account lashed out at the military spokesman, reposting supporters calling Lt. Gen. Chaudhry “disturbed” and accusing him of playing politics. They also reiterated accusations of Chaudhry’s father being a “terrorist” and called for his resignation.
During his nearly two-hour-long press conference, the ISPR DG dubbed former prime minister Khan a national security threat. “His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says if not me, then nothing,” he said while referring to Khan, who he did not directly name a single time.