Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Information and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiyar Wali Khan addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Screen recording
ISLAMABAD:
The government on Wednesday continued to lay the groundwork for a decisive move against the embattled PTI, as political tensions rose after a military spokesman’s critical comments about Imran Khan, which the government has defended and linked to national security concerns.
The latest salvo was fired by Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Information for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Affairs, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, saying that “things have reached a point of no return.”
Addressing a press conference, he said the PTI had consistently targeted the institution that had made the nation proud globally.
Wali attacked the PTI for its recent actions and warned the party: “We have tolerated you with great grace and for the sake of democracy. However, things have now reached a point of no return, no mercy and no tolerance.”
“All doors to talks are now closed,” Wali said.
He went on to say that anyone who supported the imprisoned PTI founder “represented the desecration of Pakistan’s sovereignty, honor and development.”
“We do not want to brand anyone as a traitor or ban a political party,” he continued. However, he stressed that “given the current situation, I ask people what [else] can be done.”
He blamed the PTI for attacking state institutions, promoting hatred and destabilizing the country using different means, including false narratives.
The coordinator questioned the PTI’s performance during its years in power, saying that despite 13 years of rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the party could not build a single major hospital or university. “What project did the PTI build during its government?” he asked, claiming that the party’s policy had harmed the younger generation by spreading hate.
“It was a blessing from God that the Centre, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan have remained safe from the PTI’s dirty politics,” he said, warning that the government will “now liberate KP too.”
Commenting on PTI’s recent political rally in Peshawar, Wali said they failed to gather even a modest crowd at their rally in Peshawar despite mobilizing people from across the country. He alleged that the party routinely used religion for political gain and had adopted “a political approach that encourages extremism.”
Furthermore, he made a comparison between the PTI and the banned teams, stating that “there is no difference between the TTP and the PTI.”
He held the PTI responsible for incidents like those on May 9 and November 26, saying the party had repeatedly damaged national interests.
Responding to speculations about the Governor’s Rule in KP, he commented: “If we had intended to impose the Governor’s Rule, we would have done so after the November 26 incident.”
He further alleged that PTI’s social media was being operated from India and Israel, adding that the Indian media was actively promoting what he called the “false narrative” of the PTI founder’s family.
Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and declared: “My choice is Pakistan. Long live Pakistan.”
Sharjeel Inam Memon
Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the events of May 9 can never be forgotten and urged political leaders to acknowledge their past mistakes for the sake of the country’s stability.
Addressing a press conference at Sindh House in Islamabad, Memon said that the individual he “brought to power through manipulation in 2018” not only stole the public mandate but also failed to achieve any meaningful government during his three-and-a-half-year rule.
Criticizing the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, he said its leaders still only talk about Shaukat Khanum hospital and university project but cannot point out any major development initiatives from their time in power.
He said the PTI era would be remembered as a “dark period” marked by political victimization and attacks on democratic institutions.
The minister said it was ironic that the former prime minister was now projected as a hero despite his previous claims of having “ideal relations with the establishment”.
He questioned why the PTI leaders did not talk about democratic norms when they were in government, recalling incidents such as the election of the Senate president and the party’s stance during the censorship episode.
Memon accused the PTI government of serious human rights violations, including arrests of political opponents, lawsuits against the media, and filing of trumped-up cases.
He recalled the arrest of President Asif Ali Zardari and how Faryal Talpur was sent to prison on Eid night. “His time was the worst form of authoritarianism,” he added.
Memon also criticized the PTI’s alleged international lobbying, stating that foreign media outlets, even in India, easily opened their doors to party leaders and family members.
He also questioned why Israel, accused worldwide of serious human rights violations, expressed concern over the arrest of the PTI founder.
The minister said his party does not label anyone as a traitor, but appealed to PTI leaders to practice responsible politics and refrain from inciting youth to hatred and destruction.
Memon stressed that the government remains open to dialogue and believes that political issues should be resolved through talks.
However, he said the PTI has repeatedly refused to participate. “We still want political reconciliation, but politicians must admit their mistakes. The nation cannot forget the events of May 9 and the attack on Quaid-e-Azam’s residence,” he said.
He said the PTI founder was neither a “superman” nor had he achieved anything extraordinary. “We cannot ignore what happened to the country,” he said.
