Islamabad — Web Desk: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday strongly criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, accusing him of dragging the military into political debates and fuelling political polarisation in the country.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, Gohar said national leaders should have delivered a unified message against terrorism instead of engaging in political point-scoring. He rejected allegations that PTI was linked to terrorism, stating that “terrorists are enemies of Pakistan wherever they are found.”
Gohar accused Asif of politicising the armed forces and questioned why the government was bringing the military into political disputes. “No one should sit on the shoulders of the armed forces to do politics,” he said, warning that such rhetoric could deepen divisions in an already polarised political environment.
He further alleged that Asif himself had previously spoken against the military, including giving what he described as the first interview to a foreign media outlet criticising the armed forces. Gohar also accused the defence minister of attacking the judiciary and failing to issue any statement against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Referring to the Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice, Gohar claimed that India had adopted Pakistan’s internal political narratives in its arguments. He said the government’s statements were being used internationally against Pakistan’s interests.
The PTI chairman also criticised the government’s handling of terrorism-related narratives, saying PTI supporters had suffered house raids and were labelled traitors without evidence. He called for unity among political parties and state institutions to confront security challenges and avoid rhetoric that could weaken national cohesion.
The exchange comes amid heightened political tensions in Pakistan, with opposition and government leaders frequently accusing each other of undermining state institutions. Analysts warn that escalating political rhetoric involving the military and judiciary could further strain Pakistan’s fragile democratic environment.
