ISPR DG terms Imran Khan ‘mentally ill, national security threat’

 

RAWALPINDI: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday castigated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his party’s “anti-army’s rhetoric”, terming him a “mentally ill person, whose conduct had become a “serious national security threat”.

Addressing an over two-hour-long press conference in Rawalpindi, the military’s spokesperson slammed the former prime minister for working with “external elements, spreading disinformation, provoking unrest and persistently targeting the armed forces”.

The ISPR chief said today’s briefing was aimed at outlining internal national security challenges, saying that nothing is above the state of Pakistan.

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.”

Describing what he called a “delusional mindset” of a “person captive of his own thoughts,”  Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the narrative promoted by a particular political figure has “evolved into a national security threat”.

The ISPR DG said that anyone who attacks the armed forces or its leadership is effectively “creating space for another army”.

Lt Gen Chaudhry asserted that the PTI founder keeps the Constitution, the law and established rules aside while promoting this narrative.

He said that the PTI founder sends a narrative against the military and its leadership whenever a meeting is held at Adiala jail.

Addressing the presser, the ISPR DG slammed Imran for “placing personal ego above national interest and of repeatedly promoting an anti-Pakistan, anti-army narrative”.

“This mentally ill individual tweeted two days ago. He believes nothing exists beyond him — not even Pakistan.”

“We respect Pakistan’s political leadership but keep the army away from your politics,” the military’s spokesperson said, adding: “We will not allow anyone to create a rift between Pakistan’s army and the people”.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said Imran had promoted a “scientific system” of coordinated troll activity, driven narratives through his own social media accounts, and repeatedly likened himself to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Indian, Afghan and some international media, he said, amplified his messaging, with troll networks abroad boosting content in synchronised cycles.

According to the ISPR DG, the former premier has now become a national security threat and is working in coordination with external elements.

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.

“There is an entire science behind this,” the ISPR DG said.

Referring to the PTI founder, Lt Gen Chaudhary said: “Who are you? Whose language are you speaking? What do you think of yourself?”

The DG ISPR said that the public had already witnessed the “symptoms of a disturbed mindset”.

Referring to the social media post concerned, he shed light on how the Indian media and troll accounts, operating from outside Pakistan, pick up on this narrative.

“Accounts come after the tweet in a sequential manner [….] The original narrative was given by this mental patient by tweeting.”

“Uzma Khan is sitting on the Indian media and telling PTI to attack,” Lt Gen Chaudhry highlighted.

The ISPR DG cautioned that anyone attacking Pakistan’s Armed Forces “under their own political mindset” should expect a response.

Reaffirming the institution’s stance, he said, “We are the armed forces of Pakistan and do not represent any political ideology.” Staff Report