PTI faces backlash as parties rally behind armed forces

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Lawmakers from across Pakistan’s political spectrum intensified criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday, accusing the party of steering a destabilising narrative against state institutions following the military spokesperson’s recent press conference.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief had warned that Imran Khan’s rhetoric had crossed into a “national security threat” and described the PTI founder as a “mental patient” for his persistent attacks on the army leadership. PTI rejected the remarks as “inappropriate and unfortunate”, prompting a strong political backlash.

PML-N response

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned PTI’s rhetoric as a “dangerous trend” that sought to undermine public trust in the armed forces. Writing on X, he said political differences were part of democracy but alleged that PTI had moved into anti-state messaging through deliberate misinformation. No political leader, he added, had the right to exploit divisive rhetoric at the expense of national security.

The recent statements and political rhetoric of Imran Khan represent a deeply irresponsible and dangerous trend that seeks to undermine Pakistan’s state institutions, weaken national cohesion, and erode public trust in the armed forces who defend our borders with courage and…

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) December 7, 2025

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi echoed the criticism, reiterating past claims that PTI had received foreign funding and stating that Pakistan might have avoided “anarchy and terrorism” had action been taken earlier. He criticised Imran Khan’s posts targeting the armed forces and condemned members of the former premier’s family for giving interviews to Afghan and Indian media. Abbasi said the PTI founder’s actions had attacked national institutions rather than individuals, and he cited the 9 May incidents as examples of PTI targeting military monuments and symbols of national pride.

MQM-P reaction

In Karachi, MQM-P chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui accused PTI of bypassing parliamentary forums and contributing to political instability. He warned that the recent campaign raised concerns of possible foreign involvement and urged political parties to unite whenever the country faced a crisis. Siddiqui emphasised that all parties had traditionally stood together during national emergencies and called for collective action against narratives harming Pakistan’s stability.

CM Bugti’s statement

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also weighed in, condemning political groups promoting anti-state propaganda under the guise of political expression. He said the state remained “more important than politics” and warned that criticism of the armed forces at a sensitive time strengthened hostile narratives.

'Rowdy' PTI senators to face suspension, acting chairman rules

Referring to the DG ISPR’s briefing, Bugti said PTI’s reaction reflected a refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the message. He stressed that spreading unverified allegations against state institutions was a dangerous trend and urged political leaders to act responsibly. “Discrediting the armed forces during sensitive moments amplifies external narratives and weakens the national position,” he said.

PTI press conference

On Saturday, PTI held a press conference at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in response to the ISPR briefing. Interim chairman Gohar Ali Khan said it was “unfortunate for democracy” that a senior military officer had used such language against a major political party. He called for egos to be set aside and urged steps to improve the tone of political discourse.

Gohar said PTI had faced a challenging year but continued to stand with the nation and the armed forces. Despite the passage of the 26th and 27th amendments, he said the party had hoped for an improved political environment, but described the ISPR press conference as “deeply disappointing”.

Imran Khan's anti-Army narrative now a national security threat: DG ISPR

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had stated that Imran Khan’s social media posts were being widely amplified by Indian media and accounts linked to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), alleging that the posts attempted to create a rift between the armed forces and the public.