The opposition in the Punjab Assembly has criticized the labeling as "security threat" of Pakistan’s most popular leaders in the past and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding president Imran Khan today. Opposition leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi said the blame for poor governance by the current administration was being unfairly shifted to state institutions. "Separate the army from politics. People end up blaming the military," said. Addressing the assembly, the opposition leader accused the government of pressuring a major political party "against the wall" and create conditions that could plunge the country into another "dark chapter of history."
Qureshi said that the founder of the PTI was "one of the greatest leaders of the Muslim world" with followers around the world, raising the question of whether the government’s current approach serves the national interest. "Are you doing something good for this country or are you leading it into another dark night?" asked. He said history showed that Pakistan’s most popular leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, had been labeled as security threats at different times.
"Our leader openly says that the army is ours and the country is ours," he added. He said this is not the old era, this is the era of social media. Qureshi said the government cannot hide anything in the modern era. "In today’s world, news reaches the entire planet in a minute," he said, adding that people saw on social media how a political party was allegedly prevented from participating in the elections. he said "the most popular leader in the world" was behind bars along with his wife, while his sisters were "desperate just to take a look at it."
The opposition leader alleged that false cases had been registered against opposition leaders across the country, claiming that six assembly members were also facing charges. Qureshi said the PTI had never encouraged violence and demanded the formation of a judicial commission into the events of May 9. He accused the government of hiding behind "establishment to prolong their illegitimate rule," claiming that his hands were "stained with corruption and bad governance."
The Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution commending the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), declaring the event a milestone in the country’s military evolution and a source of national pride. The resolution stated that the appointment had enhanced Pakistan’s stature at the international level and marked the beginning of a "new and golden chapter" in the history of the nation’s defense. He added that the decision had "made all enemies nervous, including India," and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening and securing its borders. According to the text, the new designation is a "significant milestone" for the country’s defense system, and the nation has full confidence in the leadership of the chief of the defense forces. The resolution expressed the full confidence of the Punjab Assembly in the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The assembly praised the armed forces for their continuous efforts towards economic stability and national security, noting that the restoration of the country’s internal peace and defensive strength formed the basis of economic and social progress.
