Ruling Parties Close Ranks With Army After ISPR Calls Imran a Security Threat as PTI Rallies in Peshawar

Overview

• DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Imran Khan’s anti-army narrative had become a national security threat and used derogatory terms for the PTI founder.
• Government ministers and coalition leaders, including Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Hanif Abbasi, MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and PPP’s Sarfaraz Bugti, publicly backed the army and denounced PTI’s rhetoric.
• PTI rejected the characterization, called the language inappropriate, demanded an apology, and said access to the jailed Imran Khan was being restricted.
• PTI showcased support with a large rally in Peshawar, opposed any move toward governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and announced another rally in Kohat.
• ISPR alleged Indian amplification of Imran’s posts, and Pakistan’s Foreign Office rebuked Jaishankar’s comments as inflammatory and baseless.