Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday castigated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his party’s “anti-army’s rhetoric”, terming him a “mentally ill person, whose conduct had become a “serious national security threat”.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the military’s spokesperson slammed the ex-premier for working with “external elements, spreading disinformation, provoking unrest and persistently targeting the armed forces”.
Without naming anyone, Lt Gen Chaudry referred to the jailed PTI founder saying: “His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says if not me, then nothing.”
Describing what he called a “delusional mindset” of a “person captive of his own thoughts,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the narrative promoted by a particular political figure has “evolved into a national security threat”.
The ISPR DG said that anyone who attacks the armed forces or its leadership is effectively “creating space for another army”.
Lt Gen Chaudhry asserted that the PTI founder keeps the Constitution, the law and established rules aside while promoting this narrative.
Addressing the presser, the ISPR DG slammed Imran for “placing personal ego above national interest and of repeatedly promoting an anti-Pakistan, anti-army narrative”.
“This mentally ill individual tweeted two days ago. He believes nothing exists beyond him – not even Pakistan.”
“We respect Pakistan’s political leadership but keep the army away from your politics,” the military’s spokesperson said, adding: “We will not allow anyone to create a rift between Pakistan’s army and the people”.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Imran had promoted a “scientific system” of coordinated troll activity, driven narratives through his own social media accounts, and repeatedly likened himself to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Indian, Afghan and some international media, he said, amplified his messaging, with troll networks abroad boosting content in synchronised cycles.
According to the ISPR DG, the former premier has now become a national security threat and is working in coordination with external elements.
Giving another recent example, the general said this individual had claimed that anyone from his own party who visited the National Defence University (NDU) would be a traitor. “According to his logic, anyone who goes to ISPR is also a traitor,” he added.
Referring to the PTI founder, Lt Gen Chaudhary said: “Who are you? Whose language are you speaking? What do you think of yourself?”
“This person believes that anyone serving in the Pakistan Army is a traitor,” the DG ISPR asserted, adding that this person considers himself to be the only one who is right and believes everyone else is wrong.
He questioned why this individual did not speak about Pakistan’s significant issues.
The ISPR DG said that the PTI founder first creates a narrative aimed at halting remittances to push Pakistan toward default, and then calls for targeting the army’s leadership, which successfully stood firm against India during the four-day war in May.
“If someone attacks the Pakistan Army, then we will also respond.”
The ISPR DG described the propaganda surrounding the CDF notification as “a flood of lies,” questioning what kind of politics of freedom of expression this represented.
“Please grow up. Talk about real issues,” he said, adding that even routine military news was being used to generate propaganda.
Continuing his remarks, the ISPR DG said that Afghan social media was also actively involved in amplifying the narrative of the PTI founder.
“Three days ago, they repeated their narrative of dialogue with the terrorists. They pushed the line that intelligence-based operations should not be carried out,” he added.
“By the logic of this mentally disturbed individual, if India had attacked, he would have walked around with a begging bowl saying, ‘Come, let’s talk.'”
The ISPR DG noted that the PTI founder was the same person “who suggested opening an office for khawarij in Peshawar”.
“We are absolutely clear that his politics or his personality cannot be above the state,” he stressed.
Lt Gen Chaudhry reaffirmed that the Pakistan Army stood between the public and “khawarij terrorists”.
While Pakistan had never refused dialogue, he said talks with violent extremists were out of the question. Citing Paigham-e-Pakistan, he reminded that the country’s top Ulema had rejected extremism.
He said some individuals had revived the narrative of “talking to the khawarij” only three days earlier.
The DG ISPR criticised those opposing security operations, saying the KP Police were sacrificing their lives daily.
The ISPR DG said that by December 3, as many as 1.8 million illegal Afghan migrants had been repatriated under government policy.
Emphasising constitutional hierarchy, the ISPR DG said the state – and the elected government – were supreme, not individuals or institutions. The army, he said, was an institution functioning under civilian authority.
He dismissed online attacks, referring to them as “a barking dog – do not worry about it”.
Lt Gen Chaudhry urged the media to act responsibly, “call truth truth and falsehood false”, and focus on real national issues.
Concluding the briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the army would not allow rifts between the institution and the public.
PTI urges de-escalation
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called for de-escalation and giving space to each other, saying the press conference left him “disappointed”.
While he acknowledged that the country’s defence was important, Barrister Gohar said that “PTI’s narrative has never been, nor will ever be, anti-state.”
“It is regrettable when state institutions and political figures label each other as mentally ill or consider them threats.”
Pakistan and its armed forces “belong to all of us”, he said, adding the PTI had demonstrated its commitment to the country and would continue to do so.
He cautioned that actions by certain non-stakeholders should not further strain PTI’s ties with state institutions. He further noted, “The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are in jail. If they are allowed meetings, we can move towards reconciliation. The country cannot bear further tension and unrest.”
Key points
n Propaganda surrounding CDF notification as ‘flood of lies’
n Army standing between public and terrorists
n 1.8 million illegal Afghan migrants repatriated
n State, elected govt supreme, not individuals or institutions
n Media told to act responsibly