The opposition in the Punjab Assembly has criticized the labeling as "security threat" of the most popular leaders of Pakistan in the past and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan at present. Leader of Opposition Moeen Riaz Qureshi said that the blame for poor governance by the current administration was unfairly shifting to state institutions. "Separate the army from politics. People end up blaming the military," he said. Addressing the assembly, the opposition leader accused the government of pressuring a major political party "against the wall" and create conditions that could plunge the country into another "dark chapter of history."
Qureshi said the PTI founder was "one of the greatest leaders in the Muslim world" with supporters across the globe, raising the question of whether the government’s current approach served the national interest. "Are you doing good for this country or driving it into another dark night?" he asked. He said history showed that Pakistan’s most popular leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, had all been labeled security threats at different times.
"Our leader openly says that the army is ours and the country is ours," he added. He said this is not the old era, it is the age of social media. Qureshi said the government could not hide anything in the modern age. "In today’s world, a piece of news reaches the whole globe in a minute," he said, adding that people were watching on social media how a political party was allegedly prevented from participating in elections. He said "the world’s most popular leader" was behind bars with his wife, while his sisters were "desperate just to catch a glimpse of him."
Claiming that false cases were registered against opposition leaders across the country, the opposition leader claimed that six members of the assembly were also accused. Qureshi said PTI had never incited violence and demanded the formation of a judicial commission into the May 9 events. He accused the government of hiding behind "establishment to prolong his illegitimate rule," claiming that its hands were "tainted by corruption and bad governance."
The Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution praising the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), declaring the development a milestone in the country’s military development and a source of national pride. The resolution stated that the appointment had enhanced Pakistan’s stature internationally and marked the beginning of a "new and golden chapter" in the country’s defense history. It added that the decision had "disturbed all enemies including India," and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening and securing its borders. According to the text, the new designation is a "significant landmark" for the country’s defense system and the nation has full confidence in the leadership of the Chief of Defense Forces. The resolution expressed the full confidence of the Punjab Assembly in the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The assembly commended the armed forces for their continued efforts for economic stability and national security, noting that the restoration of internal peace and the country’s defensive strength formed the basis for economic and social progress.
