PTI Denounces ISPR DG’s Remarks Against Imran Khan as “Unfortunate”

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued a forceful rebuttal on Saturday against the press conference held by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. They described his comments about party founder Imran Khan as “unfortunate” and “ridiculous.”

The DG, in his address a day earlier, had labelled Khan “mentally ill” and a national security threat. He also criticised the PTI’s “anti-army rhetoric.”

Addressing a press conference at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja rejected the characterisation of Khan. “Today, we are told that the country’s most popular leader is a national security threat, which in itself is ridiculous,” Raja stated. He argued that Khan’s supporters are not “mad.” Instead, they are people with common sense standing behind him for a reason.

کچھ اصول ہیں جو پوری دنیا نے اپنا لیے ہیں پاکستان آج پوری دنیا سے پیچھے کھڑا ہے جب سپریم کورٹ نے ملٹری کورٹ کے خلاف فیصلہ دیا، پی ٹی آئی کو مخصوص نشستیں دیں اس کی پاداش میں چھبیسویں اور ستائیسویں ترمیم کے ذریعے ایک ذیلی عدالت بنا دیا گیا، آج اس ملک میں زباں بندی کا عالم ہے کوئی… pic.twitter.com/x0L1nunkB4

— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 6, 2025

Raja cautioned against any attempt to eliminate Khan He warned, “God forbid, if you do, it will be very difficult to keep this country united.” He also warned against removing KP’s elected government. Raja stated those responsible would bear the consequences.

آج پاکستان وہیں کھڑا ہے جہاں قائد اعظم پاکستان کو کھڑا نہیں کرنا چاہتے تھے – ہر دور میں مقبول سیاسی رہنما کو سکیورٹی تھریٹ قرار دے چکے ہیں ۔
سلمان اکرم راجہ
pic.twitter.com/vDbd90PrwE

— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 6, 2025

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking before Raja, called for a reduction in tensions. He termed the ISPR DG’s language “unfortunate for democracy.” Gohar stated that such public clashes between a major political party and a state institution only benefit the country’s adversaries.

عمران خان National Security Threat نہیں ہے , عمران خان نے اس ملک کو جوڑ کے رکھا ہوا ہے- عمران خان نے کروڑوں نوجوانوں کو اس بیانیہ کے ساتھ جوڑ کر رکھا ہوا ہے جو اس ملک کے لیے ریڑھ کی ہڈی رکھتا ہے ورنہ اور بہت سارے بیانیے ہیں ۔

سلمان اکرم راجہ pic.twitter.com/5MydxhXiy2

— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 6, 2025

Barrister Gohar emphasised there is still time to ease the tone and prevent such incidents in the future. He also demanded that meetings with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail be allowed without restriction. Furthermore, he insisted the issue of his family visits not be politicised.

Read: DG ISPR Terms Imran Khan’s “Anti-Army” Narrative a “National Security Threat”

While stating the PTI was ready for dialogue, the leaders made clear they would not retaliate in kind. Raja concluded, “It is easy to respond to the brick with a stone, but we will not do it because the country’s benefit is not in this.”