Mushtaq Ghani Questions Military’s Right to Accuse Political Parties
Rawalpindi: Former Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mushtaq Ghani on Tuesday questioned the authority of state institutions to level allegations against a political party, stating that only political parties have the right to criticize one another, not the military.
Speaking to the media at Dakhgal check-post on Adiala Road, Ghani reacted to a recent press conference by the Director General ISPR, asking who had given state institutions the right to accuse a political party. He said PTI respects the armed forces and reiterated that PTI founder Imran Khan himself has repeatedly said that both the country and the army belong to the people. “However, when questions are raised, answers will also be given,” he added.
Earlier, several PTI leaders including Mushtaq Ghani, Mian Umar, Sher Ali Afridi, Iftikhar Charsadda, Samiullah and Shah Tarab arrived on Adiala Road to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, but were stopped by police at the Dakhgal check-post. Ghani said that while others were being allowed to pass, only six PTI MPAs were prevented from proceeding further despite offering to undergo security checks and even walk on foot.
He termed the situation “fascism” and alleged that Imran Khan has been kept in solitary confinement for the past two to two-and-a-half months without legal justification. Ghani questioned the authority of the current government, claiming it lacks real power, and said meaningful dialogue can only be held with those who actually have decision-making authority.
The former speaker said PTI believes in constitutional rule, democracy and national unity, and does not support chaos or violence. He alleged that meetings with Imran Khan were being deliberately blocked to hide facts from the public. He reaffirmed that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is the party chairman, chosen by the PTI founder, and that the party fully abides by his decisions.
Ghani further criticized what he described as engineered governance and judiciary, claiming that despite court permissions, PTI leaders are being prevented from meeting their leader. He stressed that PTI does not support terrorism in any form and considers anyone who harms the country, attacks mosques or kills innocent people as a terrorist.
Concluding his remarks, Ghani said PTI’s only demand is consultation before any security operation, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He recalled that a provincial assembly jirga, attended by all political parties, had unanimously agreed that terrorism must be opposed but stressed that elected representatives should be consulted before any action is taken.
