Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for promoting what he described as an anti-military and anti-state narrative.
Lt Gen Chaudhry made the remarks hours after the Ministry of Defence issued a notification appointing Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), and during the inauguration of the new Chief of Defence Forces headquarters.
The ISPR chief said the briefing was intended to highlight internal national security challenges, emphasizing that “nothing is above the state of Pakistan.”
While not naming Khan directly at first, Lt Gen Chaudhry referred to a political figure in custody, saying: “His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says, ‘if not me, then nothing.’”
He described what he called a “delusional mindset”, adding that the narrative promoted by the individual has “evolved into a national security threat.”
According to the DG ISPR, anyone who attacks the armed forces or its leadership is effectively “creating space for another army.” He further stated that the individual in question disregards the Constitution, law, and established rules while spreading this narrative.
“Under which law or Constitution do you meet a convicted individual?” he asked, adding that such interactions result in the promotion of an anti-military narrative from prison.
Lt Gen Chaudhry also referred to the individual as “mentally disturbed”, noting previous attempts to influence overseas Pakistanis to stop remittances, potentially harming the country’s economy.
The ISPR chief stressed that while Pakistan’s political leadership is respected, the military must remain separate from political disputes. “We will not allow anyone to create a rift between Pakistan’s army and the people,” he said.
Highlighting constitutional limits, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Article 19 guarantees freedom of expression but includes restrictions against speaking against the state or national security.
He also mentioned a recent social media post by the jailed individual that targeted military leadership involved in Operation Bunyamum Marsoos, which faced an enemy reportedly eight times stronger.
“There is an entire science behind this,” the ISPR DG said.
The ISPR DG said that the individual is “working alongside external elements,” and cautioned that anyone attacking Pakistan’s Armed Forces “under their own political mindset” should expect a response.
He reiterated that the Pakistan Armed Forces do not represent any political ideology, saying: “We are the armed forces of Pakistan and reflect no political thinking.”
The ISPR DG said that whenever people meet the political figure, “he propagates a narrative against the state of Pakistan and the military.”
According to the DG ISPR, PTI founder Imran has now become a national security threat and is working in coordination with external elements.
Reaffirming the institution’s stance, he said, “We are the armed forces of Pakistan and do not represent any political ideology.” He added that if anyone attacks the Pakistan Army based on their personal beliefs, “we will respond”.
