Gohar calls for dialogue, de-escalation; expresses disappointment with DG ISPR’s presses

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has appealed to pro-democracy forces to play their part in reducing tensions as he expressed his disappointment over the Director General ISPR’s press conference where he termed former Prime Minister Imran Khan as a ‘threat to national security’.

In a post on X, Gohar responded to DG ISPR’s remarks, saying he had always hoped for reduced tensions and improved relations between state institutions. He emphasized that the defense of the country was paramount and asserted that the PTI’s narrative had ‘never been, and would never be, against the state’.

He added that it was deeply unfortunate for state institutions and political leaders to label each other as ‘mentally unstable’ or portray each other as threats. “Pakistan is ours and the army is also ours. We have demonstrated this in practice and will continue to do so,” he said.

Calling for restraint, he said this was a moment for all sides to recognize each other, create space for engagement and work to overcome the prevailing trust deficit, while appealing to all democratic forces to play their part in reducing tensions.

Read: DG ISPR lashes out at Imran’s ‘anti-army’ narrative, calls it ‘national threat’

Gohar also warned that the behavior of “certain non-stakeholders” should not worsen relations between the PTI and state institutions. Referring to the imprisonment of PTI founder and Bushra Bibi, he said allowing meetings with them could help ‘move matters in the direction of improvement’.

“The country cannot afford more tension and chaos,” he warned, urging all political actors to act responsibly for national stability.

His statement followed Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s hard-hitting press conference earlier in the day, where he criticized the jailed former prime minister and his party and warned that no one would be allowed to incite the public against the armed forces.

Addressing reporters in Rawalpindi, DG ISPR spoke of a “creeping national security threat”, the military believed, requiring urgent attention. He said the threat emanated from “a delusional mindset of a delusional person who has been trapped by his own ego and believed that his desires are greater than those of the state of Pakistan”, in a clear reference to Imran Khan.

“Who are you? What message do you want to give? Who do you think you are?” he remarked.

Also read: Tarar says PTI has blockaded all his homes, no talks are possible now

The ISPR director general highlighted what he described as the growing influence of one person, adding: “One person’s ambitions are bigger than the state itself. The armed forces serve as a shield between the public and extremist ideologies. This person’s political relevance has ceased; he should focus on his own politics and keep the military out of it.”

Emphasizing the strategic role of Pakistan’s armed forces in protecting the country from internal and external threats, he said attacks on the military only weakened national security. “It is the armed forces that stand between the Hindutva mindset of India and their hegemonic designs and the people of Pakistan. It is these armed forces that stand between the khawarij, terrorists, Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan operating from Afghanistan,” he said.