The funeral of Pakistan Armed Forces martyrs in Bannu was attended by the Prime Minister and the Army Chief, yet neither Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur nor a single member of his provincial cabinet was present. Such an absence raises serious questions about the provincial leadership’s priorities and the respect shown to those who laid down their lives for the nation. This is not a minor lapse. It is a message that demands scrutiny.
Participation in martyrs’ funerals is not merely symbolic. It is a public acknowledgment of courage and ultimate sacrifice. It tells the families of the fallen that their grief is shared by the state and society. It confirms that the cause for which these soldiers gave their lives remains central to the nation. By abstaining, the provincial leadership risks sending a troubling signal. Their absence signals indifference to the very values and sacrifices these martyrs represent.
PTI has long strayed from responsible political conduct. One persistent question remains. Who truly strategizes the party’s policies? Who decides what Imran Khan shares on social media and when? Does PTI understand the difference between opposing a government and opposing the state itself? Ignoring this distinction risks serious moral and political consequences.
PTI’s persistent obstruction of counter-terrorism and apologetics for extremist groups show a troubling pattern of prioritizing political positioning over national security.
The contrast in PTI’s priorities is glaring. Internal directives demand that all party representatives attend every judicial proceeding of the Prime Minister, with attendance meticulously monitored and reported. Senators, MNAs, and MPAs are even relocated to ensure compliance. Internal party discipline is prioritized over national respect.
The issue becomes even more troubling when viewed in the context of May 9. Memorials of fallen soldiers were desecrated, yet PTI chose defiance over accountability, denying responsibility by claiming the vandals were not party workers. Now, senior provincial leadership abstains from the funerals of the very soldiers whose memory they failed to defend. Such behavior risks sending a message that the party places its political battles above honoring those who sacrificed everything for the country.
Historical patterns reinforce the concern. In previous instances, PTI leaders have often remained distant from state functions that honor the armed forces or critical public institutions. This is not a one-time lapse. It is a pattern suggesting that party interests systematically outweigh national obligations. Such behavior erodes public trust and diminishes the credibility of leadership.
More alarming is PTI’s consistent apologetic stance toward the TTP and related groups. In the past, Imran Khan and PTI have personally taken responsibility for negotiating with the TTP. They have advocated for the rehabilitation of nearly 40,000 TTP militants, with video evidence confirming this position. When terrorism was on the rise, the KP government proposed reconciliation with the TTP, and PTI repeatedly acted to obstruct counter-terrorism operations. The party worked alongside local groups to block kinetic operations, using narratives of human rights violations and victimhood to discredit essential security measures.
This approach has undermined social and political support for counter-terrorism operations. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan further intensified the threat. PTI’s policy has given the impression abroad that Pakistan is divided over counter-terrorism efforts. The sacrifices of martyrs and law enforcement are diminished when political strategies generate confusion rather than unity.
State officials’ presence at funerals signal that the sacrifices of these sons are recognized and valued. It reassures families that their grief is shared, that the nation honors their children’s ultimate sacrifice, and that their deaths are not forgotten. When a provincial Chief Minister refuses this duty, the message is quite the opposite.
Politics may have its demands, and party loyalty is natural. But political calculations and internal obligations cannot replace moral responsibility. Desecrating memorials one day and avoiding funerals the next is a moral failure that cannot be ignored. PTI’s persistent obstruction of counter-terrorism and apologetics for extremist groups show a troubling pattern of prioritizing political positioning over national security. Ultimately, martyrs deserve recognition, respect, and the visible presence of state representatives in their honor. Families must know that their loss is shared by the nation. The absence of the Chief Minister and his cabinet sends a troubling signal. It is as if the fundamental values and sacrifices these martyrs embody are being denied. In a nation constantly challenged by security threats, no political or party consideration should ever diminish this recognition.
The writer is a lawyer and author based in Islamabad. He tweets @m_asifmahmood.