Islamabad/Sialkot, December 6, 2025: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday strongly criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for objecting to the remarks made by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who a day earlier launched a blistering critique of PTI founder Imran Khan.
On Friday, the military spokesperson, without naming Imran, referred to the former prime minister as “a mentally ill person”, “a narcissist” and “a security risk”, accusing him and his party of propagating a narrative aimed at undermining the armed forces and destabilising the state. He stressed that it was the government’s prerogative to decide how to deal with the incarcerated PTI founder.
In response, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali had expressed “disappointment” over the remarks, asserting that “PTI’s narrative has never been, nor will it ever be, anti-state.”
Speaking to reporters in Sialkot, Asif insisted the PTI had no grounds to object to the DG ISPR’s comments, recalling that Imran Khan himself had repeatedly used “harsh” and “derogatory” language for political opponents while in power.
“When they were in government, he (Imran) would engage in theatrics, sometimes donning a dupatta to mock leaders. He did that to Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who now stands with him,” the minister said. “He would also use insulting language for women. Even today, he continues doing the same through statements issued on his X account.”
Calling Lt Gen Chaudhry’s briefing a “guarded reaction”, Asif accused the PTI of promoting an “anti-state narrative”, saying the party had failed to acknowledge the sacrifices of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism.
“I have attended the funerals of countless martyrs… I have never seen anyone from PTI there,” he said, urging the party leadership to “speak for martyrs, not terrorists”.
The minister warned PTI against seeking dialogue with militants or adopting a softer stance towards them. “When you choose such an approach, this is the kind of language you should expect in return,” he said.
Asif also criticised the PTI for allegedly “engaging with the enemy”, pointing to interviews given by Imran Khan’s sisters to Indian media. “How can they call themselves Pakistanis and patriots?” he questioned.
He accused the party of lacking loyalty to the country, saying their “only ideology is to gain power”.
Referring to the recent armed conflict with India in May, Asif said Pakistan received sympathies from neighbouring countries over the martyrdom of its soldiers, but “internally, one party here did not play any role in confronting the enemy”.
“The PTI leader comments on everything. Why was he silent during that time? Why did he not support our soldiers and armed forces?” he asked. “Even during war, they criticised the military leadership. How can they now claim the DG ISPR should not have spoken?”
He emphasised that the military spokesperson “has every right to speak”.
Issuing a warning to the PTI, the defence minister said: “Do your politics, hold your protests, but do not threaten Pakistan’s sovereignty and honour.”
Responding to the controversy on Friday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had said it was “regrettable when state institutions and political figures call each other mentally ill or perceive one another as threats”. He rejected claims that the party spread an anti-state narrative, saying, “Pakistan belongs to us, and so does the army.”
He added that tension between PTI and state institutions should not escalate due to the conduct of “certain non-stakeholders”. Gohar also said the political atmosphere would improve if authorities allowed meetings with Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, both currently imprisoned.
“The country cannot afford tension and chaos,” he stressed.
