Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday trained guns at incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan without naming him for spreading what he described as an “anti-army” narrative.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the ISPR chief warned of a “creeping national security threat”, saying that the military felt compelled to address the rhetoric that had moved beyond politics.
He referred to Khan as a “delusional person” captive to his own ego, claiming that the jailed former premier believed his wishes outweighed those of the state.
The ISPR chief said that the narrative being pushed was a matter of national security and it was important for the military’s media wing to clarify and remove ambiguities, noting that the rhetoric was being advanced in collusion with external actors.
He reiterated that the armed forces represented all regions, religions and communities of Pakistan, but once in uniform, they set aside personal affiliations.
“We strive and die daily for the people of Pakistan and for the integrity of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the military largely came from middle and lower socio-economic classes and did not represent elitism or political actors.
Lt Gen Chaudhry warned that if the armed forces and their leadership were attacked for reasons of ego or narcissism, they would respond firmly. He urged political parties to keep their politics away from the military, saying the army did not want to be dragged into political disputes.
He outlined how Khan’s rhetoric was harming the armed forces, stressing that no one could be allowed to create divisions between the people and the military. The ISPR chief also said the army was the only shield standing between Pakistan and external threats, including India’s Hindutva mindset and terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.
Without naming anyone, Lt Gen Chaudry referred to the jailed PTI founder saying: “His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says if not me, then nothing.”
Declaring ex-PM Khan “mentally ill”, he questioned what kind of Constitution and law was it under which you meet a convicted person.
Citing Articles 17 and 19 of the Constitution, he said they permit freedom of expression and political activity, but it was subject to reasonable restrictions that protect the security and integrity of the state.
“We respect Pakistan’s political leadership but keep the army away from your politics,” the military’s spokesperson said, adding that they would not allow anyone to create a rift between Pakistan’s army and the people.
The military spokesperson also said Khan tried to stop remittances, wrote to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to block agreements with Pakistan, encouraged civil disobedience and urged followers to target army leadership.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the “mentally disturbed individual” had recently posted a tweet and asked his supporters to target military leadership that stood firm against an enemy eight times stronger in the Operation Bunyan um Marsoos.
He said such actions could only benefit hostile actors outside Pakistan.
During the nearly two hours long presser, Lt Gen Chaudhry also showed screenshots of Khan’s tweets and video messages of his loyalists, alleging that troll accounts operated from abroad were amplifying the narrative.
He also said Indian media and intelligence-linked accounts were spreading the rhetoric while Afghan social media was also involved.
Earlier, the ISPR chief spoke of the propaganda spread over the notification of the chief of defence forces, describing it as “a flood of lies”.
He questioned what kind of politics of freedom of expression it was. “Please grow up. Talk about real issues,” he said, adding that even routine military news was being used to generate propaganda.