LAHORE: Several federal and provincial ministers on Sunday launched a strong attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership — particularly its founder Imran Khan — accusing them of running anti-state and anti-army campaigns and now facing the consequences of their own actions.
Speaking in Lahore, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said the PTI had carried out “what Pakistan’s enemies wished to do,” alleging that the party deliberately targeted state institutions and fuelled propaganda against the armed forces.
He said while the PMLN leadership had always been engaged in public service, PTI governments, especially in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, had left the province in ruins despite ruling it for 12 years. Tarar added that KP failed to build even one major hospital comparable to PKLI, and claimed that every significant national development project bears Nawaz Sharif’s name.
The minister also accused the PTI founder of looting £190 million and mismanaging public welfare funds. He said the Pakistan Army, led by the Chief of Defence Forces/Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, had shot down seven enemy aircraft, yet the PTI government remained silent on Indian aggression and sidelined issues like Kashmir and Palestine.
Tarar further alleged that PTI’s social media accounts were involved in spreading misleading propaganda against the state institutions. He said the May 9 attacks targeted sensitive installations, adding that the government had “defeated PTI and India on May 10”.
He reiterated that PTI’s actions neither protected national interests nor strengthened Pakistan, but instead caused lasting damage to democratic and security institutions.
Separately, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan Sunday expressed strong solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces and paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces/ Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying the nation has not forgotten the Indian attack of May 10 or the Pakistan Army’s “exemplary and historic” response.
Addressing a convention in Faisalabad, he said the enemy had never accepted Pakistan’s independent identity, but the armed forces had given the nation the confidence and strength to face every challenge. He criticised those who spread anti-state propaganda online, remarking that “irresponsible comments on social media are easy, but those critics should send their own children to guard the borders first.” He added that those who malign national institutions should feel ashamed, especially in view of the sacrifices made by the families of martyrs.
He said the events of May 10 showed how the enemy was forced to retreat, and the world witnessed Pakistan’s defensive strength. “It is unprecedented that seven enemy aircraft were downed without the loss of a single Pakistani aircraft,” he said, attributing it to God’s blessings and the bravery of Pakistan’s soldiers.
Aleem Khan added that the Pakistan Army had greatly enhanced Pakistan’s image internationally, allowing citizens to “hold their heads high”. He urged people not to support hostile narratives and to stand firmly with national institutions.
The federal minister also announced major road development projects for Faisalabad, including the expansion of Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad highway from two to three lanes and the construction of Faisalabad-Gatwala-Lahore road.
Proposing significant administrative reforms, Aleem Khan suggested dividing Punjab into four provinces, with “Western Punjab” having Faisalabad as its headquarters. He said all the provinces should be reorganised on administrative grounds to reduce public hardship. Citing international examples, he noted that countries with similar or smaller populations have far more administrative units, underscoring the need for structural reforms in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said Sunday the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan armed forces and will not allow anyone to endanger the country’s security and sovereignty.
Addressing a press conference here, he criticised the PTI founder, accusing him of deliberately harming national stability and promoting a narrative hostile to Pakistan’s integrity. He said the former prime minister had “proved through his actions and statements” he was part of a dangerous campaign targeting state institutions.
The minister said the people of Pakistan firmly support the armed forces which, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, had inflicted a “historic defeat” on India. He said the sacrifices of Pakistan’s martyrs have upheld the nation’s honour globally, but PTI founder continued to issue statements “against national interest”.
Abbasi said PTI founder’s posts and statements continue to target the state institutions, adding, “No Pakistani has ever colluded with Afghanistan or India to attack national security. Anyone playing with country’s integrity is mentally unstable, not a patriot. You have crossed all limits for the sake of power, but we will not allow your narrative to succeed”.
He also criticised PTI founder’s sisters for giving statements on Indian media which were “completely against Pakistan’s interests”.
He said all evidence of 9 May incidents is with the relevant institutions, and those placed on Exit Control List were not added “without reason”.
Also, PMLN senior leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTI deceived the public through lies and fraud, while those who indulged in character assassination and abusive politics have now met their fate.
In a statement on Sunday, she said the PMLN government had presented the Murree Development Plan, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif elevated Kotli Sattian to the status of a tehsil. Calling the November 24 protest a “fight between in-laws,” Marriyum said it symbolises the PTI’s internal political conflicts.
She criticised the PTI for failing to undertake any public welfare initiatives during its rule. In contrast, she said, children across Punjab are receiving laptops today, and the province’s streets and neighbourhoods appear cleaner than before.
Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi Sunday led a PTI gathering at the Hayatabad Sports Complex that rebutted the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s recent press conference and declared Imran Khan the people’s ‘legitimate leader’.
The gathering passed a resolution rejecting any move to impose governor’s rule in KP and demanded the immediate release and full visitation rights for Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other political detainees.
The rally was addressed by Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asad Qaiser, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Junaid Akbar, Atif Khan, Sher Ali Arbab, Shafi Ullah Jan, Meena Khan Afridi and Taimoor Khan Jhagra. The speakers collectively condemned what they termed unconstitutional overreach and vowed to continue democratic protest.
“A DG of an institution comes and holds a press conference and uses inappropriate words about me. I am a dignified Pakhtun and my upbringing does not allow me to hurl abuses,” Sohail Afridi said, opening his speech with a Pashto couplet after the national anthem.
He launched a blistering critique of the DG ISPR’s Friday briefing, widely viewed as directed at jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and which used terms such as “national security risk,” “mentally unstable,” “self-obsessed” and “prisoner of ego.”
The chief minister accused those shaping security policy of repeating failed experiments on KP for 21 years, saying “operations upon operations, drones upon drones.” He added: “If your 21-year policy has not succeeded, the fault is yours; change the policy. KP is not a laboratory.”
Defending PTI’s governance record, he said the people of KP would now shape a stable security approach. He also announced a Rs100 billion development package for Peshawar, accused the federal elite of corruption cited by the IMF (Rs5,300 billion) and warned that “political crows” would not derail KP’s mandate.
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser called Peshawar “Imran Khan’s stronghold” and insisted the party would not bow to pressure, while urging reopening of trade with Afghanistan and criticising border closures.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the rally’s demands extended beyond PTI and pledged that protest plans, including recurring public calls for a march to D-Chowk, would be carried forward by leaders authorised by Imran Khan.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai reiterated coordination on protest strategy and endorsed calls for justice.
PTI KP President Junaid Akbar said state actions had removed PTI’s electoral symbol and jailed its leadership, yet the party remained loyal to the state. He said the organisers should have shifted the rally to the Karnal Sher Khan Stadium to transparently demonstrate public strength, and announced another large gathering next Sunday in Kohat.
MNA Atif Khan urged the state institutions not to widen the gulf with the people.
MNA Sher Ali Arbab presented and secured adoption of a detailed resolution declaring Imran Khan the legitimate prime minister elected on February 8, rejecting claims labelling him or his associates as national security risk, demanding justice and immediate release of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, restoration of visitation rights and honouring martyrs of May 9 and November 26. It also called for accountability and an apology from responsible officers for “misleading rhetoric”. The resolution also categorically rejected any attempt to impose governor’s rule in KP as illegal and unconstitutional.
Meena Khan Afridi denounced attacks on an elected chief minister who commands the mandate of some 45 million people.
Speakers repeatedly condemned what they described as institutional overreach, saying that when an official spokesperson uses politically charged language, civilian supremacy and constitutional boundaries must be respected.
The gathering paid tribute to all martyrs, including those of May 9 and November 26, and applauded the sacrifices of uniformed personnel.
Throughout the rally at the Hayatabad Sports Complex, the crowd persistently chanted for a march to D-Chowk.
