PTI Leaders Respond to DG ISPR Remarks, Reject Allegations of Supporting Terrorism

Islamabad: Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a press conference in Islamabad to respond to statements made by DG ISPR regarding the party and its stance on terrorism.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, flanked by Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser, said the party’s position on terrorism has always been clear: terrorism is a menace that should not be politicized, and it must be eliminated. He emphasized that the National Action Plan’s 14 points must be fully implemented.

“It is incorrect to say that the PTI government has not cooperated against terrorism,” Barrister Gohar asserted. “Terrorists have no religion or political affiliation, and PTI itself has been targeted in terrorist attacks. Action against terrorism should be pursued through proper forums. PTI has always been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, prioritizing the safety of its people.”

He clarified that no negotiations are ongoing on PTI’s part, and any mandate for talks lies with the party’s founder, with Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Achakzai authorized to engage. He stressed that institutions, their heads, and politicians serve the people, not themselves.

Salman Akram Raja condemned the DG ISPR’s assertion that PTI’s founder sympathizes with terrorists, calling it “completely false.” He clarified that PTI does not support terrorists but opposes the killing of innocent civilians. He noted that questions about ISIS’s sources of weaponry remain unanswered, and emphasized the importance of closing the gap between the public and institutions.

Raja criticized drone strikes and attacks on weddings and mosques, stating that PTI cannot accept such operations, and stressed the need for consistent policy-making and dialogue with the Afghan government. He also highlighted economic deprivation in affected areas as a factor that extremist groups exploit.

Asad Qaiser added that the press conference was not against any institution, emphasizing the need for strong institutions and a strong military operating within constitutional limits. He highlighted the persistent operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 17–18 years, noting that despite these, terrorism has not decreased and criticizing the spread of “Kalashnikov culture” from the Afghan war.

Qaiser further noted financial grievances, stating that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is owed billions by the federal government under NFC and oil-and-gas allocations, and that the provincial development budget has been inadequately released.

He concluded that PTI, as Pakistan’s largest political party, faces efforts to weaken it through a campaign of misinformation, but the party remains committed to opposing attempts to create divisions between the public and institutions and to ensuring national sovereignty.