PTI asks DG ISPR to apologise for terming it an "anarchist group"

Reacting to the Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif's statement, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has asked the army spokesman to tender an apology for terming it an anarchist group.

On Tuesday, DG ISPR held a press conference over Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions in Rawalpindi, in which he lashed out at PTI and its leadership for the May 9, 2023, riots.

During the presser, the army spokesperson also termed PTI an anarchist group.

Without naming anyone, DG ISPR claimed that the supporters of a political party targeted selective military installations on the orders of "some political leaders".

He said that nothing was hidden about May 9 and "the public and army have irrefutable evidence about the incident".

Refuting the notion that the establishment and PTI will hold negotiations, the DG-ISPR, in yesterday's presser, said that no talks will be held with the party that mocked national martyrs.

"If any political party or leader or group attacks its army, mocks the nation's martyrs, then no one will talk to them," he said.

"Only way forward for the anarchists [group] is to apologise sincerely, abandon the politics of hate and indulge in constructive politics," Maj Gen Chaudhry added.

In response, PTI chairman Barrister Khan on Thursday demanded an apology from DG ISPR for terming his party an anarchist group.

"Don't call us an anarchist group, millions of people came out in support of Imran Khan for the supremacy of the constitution and law, and we organised the largest public gathering and conventions in the history of the country, but not even a single pot was broken," he said in a post on the microblogging site X.

"We are loyal to the country and will remain, there was no need to target us [PTI] by holding a press conference. Our demand is to bring the CCTV footage [of Imran Khan's arrest] in front of the nation and tell them who abducted Imran Khan," the PTI stalwart added.

Last year on May 9,  several military and civil installations were vandalised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters after the arrest of party founder Imran Khan in a corruption case, Al Qadir Trust case.

Following the violence, a total of 102 persons were arrested for their involvement in the attacks on military establishments, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Jinnah House in Lahore, PAF Base Mianwali, and an office of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Faisalabad.

Later, many PTI leaders took a break from politics or left the party condemning attacks on military installations.

Pakistanis are observing "Black Day" today (Thursday) to mark the first anniversary of the May 9, 2023, violent attacks.