PESHAWAR (MNN); The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday declared that any renewed attempts to discredit party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan would only further enhance his public support.
The party made this statement during a joint rally with its ally, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), held at the Peshawar Sports Complex.
PTI and TTAP leaders condemned the recent remarks made against Imran Khan, calling for accountability of those responsible and urging steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Addressing the crowd, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said undemocratic elements were unsettled by the growing strength of genuine political movements like PTI and TTAP, resorting to “improper language” out of fear.
He stressed the need to protect Pakistan from division, advocating a country governed by rule of law, constitutional supremacy, and peaceful coexistence. Achakzai also cautioned against imposing governor’s rule in KP, saying it would bring adverse consequences.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, speaking at the rally, said PTI could not be blamed for the lack of peace in the region, which he attributed to state policies. He maintained that he had fulfilled all constitutional obligations since taking office, but some elements were crafting a misleading narrative portraying PTI as confrontational.
A resolution adopted at the rally declared Imran Khan a “national hero” and the “genuine elected prime minister of Pakistan,” rejecting claims that he or his associates posed any threat to national security.
The party expressed strong protest against recent remarks targeting Imran, calling such language contrary to democratic norms.
The resolution also condemned labeling dissenting political voices as a “growing national security threat,” referencing the recent press conference by DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who accused Imran of promoting an anti-army narrative. PTI announced another rally scheduled for December 14 in Kohat.
Meanwhile, political leaders from various parties criticised Imran and the PTI for their rhetoric. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said it was justified to describe anyone as “delusional” if they attacked the state for political gains, calling Imran’s rhetoric “unprecedented hate-mongering.”
He condemned efforts to create rifts within the armed forces and warned that no attempt against Pakistan’s stability would be allowed to succeed.
PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, Hanif Abbasi, PPP’s Sarfaraz Bugti, and MQM-P leaders also expressed solidarity with the armed forces, accusing PTI of spreading misinformation and inciting instability. Bugti termed Imran’s actions “propaganda aligned with hostile agencies,” while Abbasi called Imran a “mental patient” and criticised his family for giving interviews to Afghan and Indian media.
