ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday pushed back against recent criticism of its leadership and policies, describing the remarks as “regrettable” and warning that politicising national security issues could fuel instability.
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In a statement on X, the party responded to claims made during a military spokesperson’s press briefing, stressing that opposition to a potential military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) does not equate to support for terrorists. PTI highlighted the provincial government’s peace jirga held on November 12, 2025, where participants unanimously called for consensus-based, inclusive strategies rather than force, asserting that “military operations are not a sustainable solution.”
ڈی جی آئی ایس پی آر کی پریس کانفرنس پر پاکستان تحریک انصاف کا ردعمل:
پاکستان تحریک انصاف ڈی جی آئی ایس پی آر کی جانب سے آج کی گئی پریس کانفرنس پر شدید تشویش اور افسوس کا اظہار کرتی ہے۔ ایک آئینی و جمہوری ریاست میں عسکری ترجمان کی جانب سے ایک منتخب صوبائی حکومت، ایک بڑی سیاسی…
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 6, 2026
The party said comments suggesting that PTI was “safe from terrorism” ignored ground realities, pointing to multiple threat alerts issued for its leadership, including founder Imran Khan, and warning that targeting imprisoned political leaders without allowing them a platform to respond is “not appropriate.”
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi echoed the party’s position, saying opposition to military action was shared by all political and religious groups in the province. He criticised past operations, noting that despite 22 military campaigns and nearly 14,000 intelligence-based operations, terrorism persisted. Afridi called for transparent, measurable, and participatory policymaking, warning that decisions taken in closed rooms risked squandering resources and undermining public trust.
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PTI reiterated its commitment to Pakistan’s security, the supremacy of the Constitution, and cooperation with state institutions, insisting that unity and careful policymaking were essential to counter terrorism effectively.