PTI’s Sheikh Waqas clarifies Bradford protester woman not affiliated with party
Shaikh Waqas Akram said that the first phase of the civil disobedience movement is underway and it is targeting Pakistanis living abroad. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government would not move against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) UK as an organization but would pursue legal action against specific individuals involved in incitement and threats, if necessary, under UK law, according to the Home Secretary.
“We will not go after PTI UK but we will target the people involved,” Talal Chaudhry told The Express Pakinomist here, clarifying the government’s position while responding to questions about possible legal action in the UK.
The controversy arose after the now-deleted clip, uploaded from PTI UK’s verified account, showed a woman addressing protesters outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford and referring to the army chief in connection with a possible car bomb attack, language the government says crossed the line from political criticism to insinuation of violence.
The Pakistani government formally raised the matter with British authorities.
The move followed Islamabad’s decision to summon acting British High Commissioner Matt Cannell on Friday, with the Foreign Office handing over a démarche condemning what it described as “incitement to violence” from British soil.
Pakistan urged London to investigate the incident and initiate legal action under British law.
Talal said that Pakistan had already received a response from the British authorities, which conveyed that if there was an actionable issue, relevant material should be provided and it would be dealt with in accordance with British law.
He reiterated that the issue was not related to free speech or political disagreement. “This is not about expanded freedom of speech, nor is it a political hearing. Threats against the army chief do not fall under freedom of speech,” he said, adding that there was no concept of absolute or unchecked freedom anywhere in the world.
Citing international law, he said the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 and UN guidelines clearly prohibit the use of a sovereign country’s soil for terrorism or to incite violent activities against another state. Such actions, he added, were also covered by the UN Charter.
The minister further pointed to PTI’s past records, including the May 9 events, stating that there was a documented history of agitation and violence linked to the party.
He warned that if the British authorities failed to act, Pakistan would seek legal remedies within the British system. “This is not a trivial matter. It is a criminal matter which cannot be solved through condemnation alone and requires strict legal action,” Talal stressed.
Meanwhile, in a statement on X, PTI UK confirmed it had deleted the video, describing the woman’s comments as “metaphorical remarks” about the army chief.
While the party said it did not believe the individual had directly called for violence, it said the content was removed “out of an abundance of caution to prevent potential misunderstanding”.
Pakistani officials say the video and its transcript have been shared with British authorities, along with a formal complaint accusing the speaker and those who enhanced the footage of inciting terrorism and destabilization.
PTI UK stressed that it does not support illegal behavior and urged supporters to exercise restraint in public speaking. The Bradford protest was part of a series of overseas demonstrations organized by PTI supporters in solidarity with jailed party founder Imran Khan, with slogans critical of Pakistan’s establishment.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also clarified the party’s position, in an X statement he said: “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) categorically clarifies that the speech delivered by a woman during a protest in the United Kingdom has no connection whatsoever with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The person concerned has no official positions within the party, reflects no official positions of the party. or political philosophy is fundamentally and unequivocally against violence, incitement, hate speech and the use of offensive language.
While the original video has been removed, screenshots and reposted clips continue to circulate online and have been cited by Pakistani authorities in correspondence with London.
The episode adds to already strained ties between the PTI and the establishment. It also reflects Islamabad’s wider efforts to curb overseas-based critics targeting state institutions, although Britain is weighing how far diaspora political speech is protected before triggering criminal scrutiny under anti-terror laws.
