Web Desk (MNN); Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Saturday disassociated itself from what it termed “provocative” remarks made by a protester during a demonstration in the UK city of Bradford, as the party continues to face criticism from the government and other quarters.
A video shared on PTI’s UK social media page, which was later removed, showed a woman making inflammatory remarks without naming anyone, including a statement suggesting someone should be “blown up in a car”. The woman was seen surrounded by individuals carrying PTI flags.
Following the incident, Pakistan issued a demarche to the acting British high commissioner, seeking action against those involved. The Foreign Office spokesperson said the demarche was issued after provocative statements targeting Pakistan’s civil and military leadership were made from British soil, urging the UK authorities to hold responsible elements accountable under the law.
In a strongly worded statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the remarks had no connection whatsoever with the party. He clarified that the woman did not hold any position in PTI and had no affiliation with it, adding that the party completely rejected and disowned her rhetoric.
Akram said the views, language and tone used in the speech did not represent PTI’s official position, ideology or vision. He stressed that PTI strongly opposed violence, hate speech, incitement and inflammatory language, and believed only in democratic, constitutional and peaceful political struggle.
Separately, PTI strongly criticised the Punjab government over the treatment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, his cabinet members, lawmakers and the accompanying delegation during their visit to Punjab.
Afridi had arrived in Lahore on Friday to begin a mass public movement on the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan, calling on people to prepare themselves against oppression and authoritarianism.
According to Akram, the visit that began on December 26 as a peaceful political engagement to meet party workers and discuss public issues was deliberately turned into an act of political revenge by the Punjab government. He said the KP chief minister and his delegation were stopped at several points, had their routes blocked, faced physical resistance and were subjected to humiliating treatment inside the Punjab Assembly.
He termed the forcible removal of elected representatives from the assembly a clear violation of democratic norms and federal respect. Akram added that heavy police deployment to prevent a peaceful rally at Liberty Chowk reflected fear of public mobilisation among the ruling authorities.
He further alleged that certain planted individuals posing as journalists attempted to provoke and ridicule the delegation, accusing them of fuelling provincial hatred. Akram said asking insulting questions from a constitutional office-holder was shameful and an insult to the people of KP.
Calling such behaviour an attack on ethical journalism, he urged responsible media organisations to hold accountable those using hateful and unethical language for vested interests.
Meanwhile, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousufzai also condemned the Punjab Police’s conduct, alleging rude and inhumane treatment of the KP chief minister and his team from Chakri to the Punjab Assembly. He claimed that humiliating questions and police action at Liberty Chowk exposed fear and panic rather than strength.
