DG ISPR promises to respond ‘with its knuckles’ to PTI’s rhetoric; Death knell sounds for ‘mentally ill’ Imran’s politics
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of DG ISPR speaks during an interview with Sky News. Photo: screenshot
ISLAMABAD:
Top military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday attacked jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, calling him a “threat to national security” and warning that no one would be allowed to incite the public against the armed forces.
Khan’s “anti-army” rhetoric has crossed the boundaries of politics and now poses a direct threat to the nation’s security, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said at a press conference in Rawalpindi. He added that the military has deemed it necessary to confront the “progressive threat to national security.”
“Who are you? What message do you want to give? Who do you think you are?” quipped Lt Gen Chaudhry addressing Khan. He described Khan as a “sick person” and maintained: “They [PTI] He has a comical obsession with the Pakistan army. “They don’t talk about real issues and that’s their whole policy.”
“We cannot allow them to establish the business of fake news and lies in the country,” the military spokesman said, adding that a dangerous narrative is being spread. “This narrative that the military is the state is false. The military is not the state; the government is supreme.”
Lieutenant General Chaudhry claimed that the PTI narrative was largely based on sensationalism, misinformation and a systematic distortion of facts, elements that were further amplified by influencers supposedly aligned with the party and driven by the Indian and Afghan social media ecosystems. “Under what law, rule or constitutional provision can this be allowed?” Lieutenant General Chaudhry questioned.
“That threat emanates from the delusional mentality of a delusional person who has become captive to his own ego, thinking that his desires are greater than those of the State of Pakistan,” the military spokesman said, in an apparent reference to Khan. “His ego, desires and frustrations have grown to such a point that he believes the world would cease to exist without him.”
The ISPR DG added that it would be “a bit strange if it came from me, but the narrative that that person is pushing is no longer about politics but has become a matter of national security.”
According to Lieutenant General Chaudhry, it was “very important” for the army media to clarify, remove all ambiguities and doubts and say what needed to be said. “We need to understand how this narrative works and, unfortunately, how it works in deep collusion with external actors.”
“To understand that, first, I will set the stage by repeating something that the armed forces have been saying time and again, that we are the armed forces of Pakistan, we do not represent any ethnicity, we do not represent any language, religious inclination, political thought or school of thought. We have people from all areas of Pakistan, all religions, all sects, all languages and all political opinions, but we put all that aside once we wear this uniform.
“That is our pride, that is our honor; we strive, we die daily, not for any language, area or political point of view. We strive and die daily for the people of Pakistan, for the integrity of Pakistan. And we say that very clearly, and we also do not come from the elite class of Pakistan, we belong to the middle, lower-middle and poor socioeconomic classes; we do not carry the flag of any political actor, class or elitism; these are their armed forces, and we are absolutely clear about the character of Pakistan’s armed forces, from a soldier to its field marshal,” he said.
The military spokesman added that if someone were to attack the armed forces and their leaders for the sake of their ego, delusional mentality and narcissistic way of thinking, “then we will also come and fight with bare fists, there should be no doubt about that,” he said.
“That’s why we request again and again, you should make your politics. We respect all political parties and personalities, but please keep your politics away from Pakistan armed forces; don’t drag us into it. We don’t want to be a part of your politics. That’s why we need to communicate some things clearly.”
Lt. Gen. Chaudhry then pointed out the ways in which Khan’s rhetoric was harming the military.
“First, no one can be allowed to create rifts between the people and the armed forces of Pakistan. Why? Because this is the only armed force you have. You have no choice; this country has no other armed forces. You can have an opinion or observation about the forces, and if that can be a constructive observation or criticism, you are welcome to do so. But that does not allow you to instigate or provoke the people of Pakistan against the army and try to create a wedge between the two.”
He said that it was the armed forces that stood between the Hindutva mentality in India and its hegemonic design, and the people of Pakistan.
Continuing his criticism of the PTI founder, Lt Gen Chaudhry said that whenever people meet him, he sets aside the law, Constitution and rules to push an anti-Pakistan narrative, particularly targeting the armed forces and their leaders.
The DG ISPR emphasized that it is for the government, not the military, to decide whether to restrict gatherings at Adiala Jail or take action regarding Khan’s social media accounts.
He warned that coordinated attempts to create distrust between the armed forces and the Pakistani public through nefarious designs would not be tolerated.
The military spokesman underlined the strategic role of the armed forces in defending the country against both external and internal threats, warning that attacks against the military directly weaken national security.
“It is the military,” he said, “that stands between the people of Pakistan and India’s Hindutva-driven hegemonic designs.” “These same forces stand between the nation and the Khawarij, the terrorists, the Fitna al-Khawarij and the Fitna al-Hindustan operating from Afghanistan,” he added.
He further explained what he called the PTI’s “anti-state agenda”, which links its support networks in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to illegal activities, including narcotics trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and the widespread use of non-custom payment vehicles.
The DG ISPR added that hostile foreign elements were exploiting the PTI narrative to defame Pakistan internationally, warning that such collaboration, whether intentional or not, served the interests of adversaries and not those of the people of Pakistan.
He reiterated that Pakistan Army remained committed to safeguarding the country and would continue to counter propaganda, misinformation and any attempts to destabilize the State.
“You talk about Article 17 of the Constitution and freedom of expression, it clearly says that freedom of expression and political activity are permitted, subject to reasonable restrictions. Under reasonable restrictions, nothing that goes against the security and integrity of the State can be allowed.
“Article 19 says freedom of expression is allowed, absolutely it is, but such freedom of expression cannot be allowed which is against the security, integrity and defense of Pakistan. Is it written?” [in the Constitution] Or not? So under what law, constitution or rules, when you meet a convict, he weaves a narrative against the army and its leadership? “This is beyond our understanding.”
“Then he writes a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), asking it not to enter into any agreement with the country so that the State can default. Then he resorts to civil disobedience, does not pay the electricity bills, so anarchy spreads in the country. Let me give you another example from a few days ago: He (Imran) tells his followers to target the leadership of the army, the army that opposed an economy and a armed forces eight times his size during Operation Bunyanum and Marsoos and Marka-i-Haq. And in doing so, they earned the respect of the nation.”
He then questioned who would really benefit from such a narrative, adding that anyone living in Pakistan could not have such an agenda against the country.
He earlier congratulated everyone on the appointment of the Chief of the Defense Forces. The Chief of the Defense Forces has started work. In the current war situation, it is necessary to work in a coordinated manner in all sectors, including land, air, naval and cyber.
This step was a long-standing need; Other countries also have similar headquarters. This step following instructions from parliament is an important milestone in the defense of the country.
