ISLAMABAD: The Director General (DG) commenced his press conference by congratulating the nation on the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). He also announced the inauguration of the CDF headquarters, highlighting its pivotal role in offering strategic guidance and clarity on issues related to war and national security.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has outlined concerns regarding a particular individual who is currently imprisoned yet appears to believe that governance and power rest solely with him. In a press conference held on Friday, the military spokesperson warned that this individual’s remarks now amount to a threat to national security.
Without explicitly naming anyone, Lt Gen Chaudhry criticized the individual’s stance, stating that this person’s politics has reached its end and declared, “He is a prisoner of his own ego and impulses.” Throughout the briefing, the DG ISPR seemed to direct his commentary toward incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, highlighting allegations regarding “anti-army rhetoric” propagated by him and his party.
Reiterating the Pakistan Army’s apolitical stance, Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that the military will not tolerate any attempts to create division between the state and its citizens. He stressed the institution’s role as a protective barrier against forms of sedition and terrorism, asserting that no narrative detrimental to the state would be permitted to prevail.
The ISPR chief firmly rejected notions of regionalism, religious bias, or political affiliation within the armed forces. He underlined that personal ambitions were being prioritized over national security and declared it was time to end the propagation of negative rhetoric.
Addressing further allegations, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused the imprisoned party leader of labeling party workers attending courses at the National Defence University (NDU) as traitors. He highlighted how Indian media has been amplifying anti-army propaganda targeting Pakistan’s armed forces leadership. Social media platforms worldwide were also criticized for spreading disinformation allegedly originating from a “mentally unstable individual.”
The DG ISPR argued that democracy should not be conditional upon one’s hold on power, stating that certain political gimmicks had run their course. He questioned such narratives’ impacts on national unity and rebuked attempts to distribute “certificates of treason.”
Lt Gen Chaudhry also lamented calls from this individual encouraging people to boycott electricity bills and for overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances. He clarified that narratives undermining the leadership of Pakistan’s armed forces would not be tolerated, stressing that statements jeopardizing national security contravene constitutional principles.
In addition, he pointed out how Indian and Afghan troll networks are amplifying misleading tweets and claimed Indian media has essentially become a platform for PTI-related propaganda against the military. He accused Indian outlets of supporting individuals from groups allegedly spreading anti-state sentiments on social media and questioned their motives behind targeting the military consistently.
Criticism was also leveled at KP’s long-standing government regarding its alleged failures in education and development. Referring to incidents such as attacks on Cadet College Wana, Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that certain theatrics aimed at discrediting state institutions and predicting economic collapse were unacceptable.
He firmly declared that lies and deceit would no longer dictate discourse in Pakistan while drawing comparisons between this individual’s alleged influence and narratives inspired by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. To conclude, he underscored the significance of safeguarding the state above individual agendas.
