The leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed frustration on Saturday over the government’s inability to classify Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a “terrorist organization” in light of its continuous protests, urging swift action before it is too late.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz strongly condemned PTI, labeling it as a “terrorist group” in a public statement. “The PTI is not a political party; neither was it in the past nor can it be in the future. It is a terrorist group that continuously attacks its own country,” she said. Maryam emphasized the urgency for the state to deal with PTI as it would with any terrorist group, warning that further delay could have dire consequences.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she accused the PTI of attempting to “set the country on fire” and called for no concessions or leniency for the party. She also posted a picture of an injured police constable, stating, “Such an act cannot be done by any political party, and this is not the first time.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar criticized the timing of PTI’s protest, asserting that it was an attempt to damage Pakistan’s international reputation ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Dar described the protests as a deliberate move to create instability and sabotage Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts at the global event.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari echoed these sentiments, accusing PTI of receiving foreign backing from Israel, Afghanistan, and India. She raised concerns over the arrests of Afghan nationals during PTI demonstrations and questioned the party’s motives, as well as the involvement of non-Pakistanis in what she described as “anti-state protests.” Bokhari further criticized PTI founder Imran Khan, stating that he seems determined to prevent peace and prosperity in Pakistan from his prison cell in Adiala Jail.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar questioned the rationale behind the timing of PTI’s protests, suggesting that they were aimed at disrupting the country’s recent progress. He recalled how similar protests in 2013 had delayed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and warned that the government would not tolerate any attempts to derail the upcoming SCO summit.
Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the PTI of being consumed by its desire to return to power at any cost. He suggested that the party, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), was behaving recklessly, even raising the possibility of imposing governor’s rule in the province. He also hinted at a connection between the PTI and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In addition to these criticisms, PML-N leadership rebuked PTI for allegedly inviting Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to attend its protests. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon accused PTI of undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty, warning that the party could next invite foreign leaders hostile to Pakistan, such as the Israeli prime minister.
Ishaq Dar and Azma Bokhari both condemned the invitation as a political stunt, with Bokhari adding that such actions were tantamount to enmity against Pakistan. The government has vowed to ensure that PTI’s protests do not disrupt the SCO summit.
