PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, President Advocate Gohar Ali Khan and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub address a joint press conference on January 7, 2025.
ISLAMABAD:
Breaking its silence with a tone carefully maintained between caution and candor, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday rejected the military spokesperson’s censure, saying that while the party would not respond in kind, it sought to clarify that the jailed Imran Khan was not a “security threat” and expressed deep disappointment over the “inappropriate words”.
The PTI leaders, while adopting a controlled and conciliatory tone, also said that after strongly supporting the armed forces during the Sea War, they expected a turn towards calm. However, the party now fears that tensions will flare up further.
They stressed that their demands had been reduced to the bare minimum, for where they had previously sought the release of the imprisoned party supremo, they were now simply asking to be granted a meeting with him, as they anticipated that “minus-Imran” would be akin to “minus-all”.
While emphasizing that its response was not a tit-for-tat but a call to steady the ship before things get out of anyone’s control, the party presented its defense as a call to pull the country’s already unstable political landscape back from the brink. He argued that the combination of denial of access to Imran and aggressive rhetoric had pushed the political system towards “dangerous volatility”, and stressed that both sides must grant space, put aside ego and avoid a slide into confrontation.
Addressing a press conference at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, PTI president Barrister Gohar Ali said the party was not looking to “fight back with stones for bricks”, but stressed that it had become necessary to speak clearly because “accusations are being leveled at us” and the public “must know what has happened to us”.
Warning that prolonging the current confrontational stance risks provoking “not less one, but less all,” he said the country deserved a chance to move toward stability.
He recalled that Imran had “always said that the country is ours and the army is ours” and that the PTI had supported the military during times of war. “After all this, we thought things could get better,” he said. “But yesterday’s press conference caused deep disappointment. The words used were inappropriate.”
He warned that “some people seem determined to provoke conflict” and urged that “egos will have to be put aside and give each other space.”
“Meetings with Imran Khan are denied and cases are not examined. Until recently, our narrative was to free Imran Khan. Now we simply say: allow a meeting.”
“If things continue like this, democracy will be destroyed,” fears the PTI president.
He said the PTI remained the largest political force in the country, led by a man with the support of “70 per cent of the nation”. However, he lamented how the party had been reduced from 180 to 76 seats, its reserved seats had been occupied and its women and children had been attacked. However, he stated that the PTI had endured “for the good of democracy and the country.”
‘Another dark moment’
Salman Akram Raja, speaking alongside Gohar, said Pakistan’s checkered history was replete with dark moments when it was driven to coercion, recalling that an old maxim dominated political rhetoric that the country needed “coercion to progress”.
“We know what followed that thought,” he said. “Karachi saw dead bodies in gunny bags. This region has blood, gunpowder, weapons… but there is no social assistance.”
He argued that repeated claims that “democracy does not suit Pakistan” had only left the country increasingly weaker. “Where is Pakistan today?”
The party general secretary also recalled the establishment’s maneuvers against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s. “The institutions decided time and again that any popular leader of the people is a threat to national security and needs to be removed from the scene, but this did not happen. You cannot remove him from the hearts of the people through his decisions. The nation has always been aware and there is a reason why it supports Imran Khan. We are not angry, we know who has always been in control in this country”.
“Don’t scare away the people of Pakistan, they support Imran Khan and the PTI. Imran Khan is not a threat to national security. He has kept the people united.”
“For the love of God, don’t do this. You won’t be able to remove Imran Khan, but God forbid if you do, it will be very difficult to keep the interests of this country together. If you attack KP and dismiss its elected government to install an unelected organization, then you yourselves will be responsible for the conditions that follow.”
The party general secretary also appeared to criticize PTI’s own supporters on social media for demanding retaliation. “We are sitting because we love the country and we do not want discord in the country,” he said.
Furthermore, he accused the state of launching an unprecedented assault on the Constitution and the rule of law with the 26th and 27th amendments. “Pakistan is the only country where there is a Constitution, but the principles that the world has accepted are ignored here. How can an official become a substitute for an independent judiciary?” asked.
He regretted that the SC had previously granted the PTI its reserved seats, only to be undermined “as if it were a district court”.
“Was Pakistan created for this? Quaid-e-Azam repeatedly told military leaders that they would not participate in politics.”
“Pakistan belongs to its people”
The lawyer said Pakistanis were “aware and always will be”, adding that the country had long been held captive by narrow interests. “What good is development if your child can’t find a job?” asked. “We need a people-centered policy.”
He argued that Pakistan could not prosper if it remained isolated from regional trade. “Countries trade with their neighbors. We have problems with Afghanistan, trade with Iran is stagnant and India is a completely separate story.”
Raja further stressed that the voices of the people must echo in the parliament. “Until the public resonates in the assembly, its well-being is impossible.” He said the PTI was not sitting before the press “to respond point by point” to the military’s briefing.
“If you attack our mandate and dismiss governments, then you will be the only ones responsible,” he warned. “If something you heard bothered you, we’re ready to talk.” The PTI remained “the greatest force for the welfare of the country” and without it no challenge could be met. “Institutions and citizens must move forward together. We do not want chaos.”
‘Imran gave dignity to this country’
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said he had been with Imran Khan for 30 years and had seen him in “many difficult circumstances”. He recalled the party that collected donations for the Shaukat Khanum hospital and said he supported Imran because “he had a vision”.
“Imran Khan is a star,” Qaiser said. “He gave this country respect and identity.” He condemned any suggestion that Imran Khan could be deleted or labeled as a security risk. “He is fighting for the true freedom of the people.”
Qaiser said anger and pain ran deep in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The entire province feels insulted,” he said, asking the authorities to withdraw “those words.”
He said he was a teacher and many of his students served in the military. “We want a strong army. Soldiers and police are martyred every day. Everyone knows the situation in India and Afghanistan. Do you want to turn on a political turbine? This is leading the country towards anarchy.”
Qaiser highlighted the party’s demand for democracy. “We want democracy; our top leaders are in Kot Lakhpat jail. FIRs have been lodged against 64,000 of our people; 34,000 have been arrested. Still, we say: this country is ours.”
