“Those who rely on our taxes are labelling us as anarchists:” PTI responds to DG ISPR presser

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has responded to the press conference by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif, who emphasized severe penalties for those involved in the May 9 riots.

In an official statement on the microblogging site 'X', PTI stated that despite DG ISPR's instructions to refrain from political debate during the press conference, much of the discussion revolved around politics.

Addressing the remarks made by DG ISPR, who referred to PTI protesters as anarchists without explicitly naming the party, the Imran Khan-led party asserted, "Characterising the leadership of the Pakistani people as anarchists is the worst form of pharaohism and arrogance. Those who rely on the taxes of this anarchic nation are labelling us as anarchists."

پاکستان کی عوام کی اکٽریت کو انتشاری قرار دینا ، فرعونیت اور غرور کی بدترین مٽال ہے۔

اسی انتشاری قوم کے ٹیکس سے تنخواہ لینے والے، قوم کو انتشاری قرار دے رہے ہیں۔

بقول شاعر:

ہم ایسے سادہ دلوں کی نیاز مندی سے
بتوں نے کی ہیں جہاں میں خدائیاں کیا کیا#نو_مئی_بہانہ_PTI_نشانہ… pic.twitter.com/vTjVVaWG3a

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 7, 2024

جنرل صاحب ہم 2014 کے دھرنے اور اس سے منسلک تمام واقعات کی عدالتی تحقیقات کے لئے تیار ہیں
بس آپ یہ یقین دہانی کروائیں کہ تحقیقات کرنے والے ججز کے رشتے داروں کو اغوا کیا جائے گا نہ انکے بیڈرومز میں کیمرے لگیں گے۔

دوسرا یہ بھی بتا دیں کہ یہ مطالبہ ادارے کا ہے یا یہ بطور خالق، اپنی… pic.twitter.com/bfnlYSNr2K

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 7, 2024

During the press conference, DG ISPR's took a dig at PTI as the party suggested judicial inquiry of the May 9th incident by proposing an investigation into the 2014 sit-in and PTV attack.

In a separate post, PTI stated, "General, we are open to a judicial inquiry into the 2014 sit-in and all associated events. However, we request assurance that the investigating judges' family members will not be subjected to abduction, and their privacy, including their bedrooms, will not be violated with surveillance cameras."

The DG ISPR also shared the footage of May 9, 2023, riots, in which several military and civil installations were vandalised by PTI workers and supporters after the arrest of Mr Khan in a corruption case.

The party accused military personnel of using fabricated videos of the May 9th incidents during the press conference.

The relation between PTI and military establishment apears to be growing more strained due to recent heated exchanges.

Speaking to journalists, the DG ISPR refuted the notion that the establishment and PTI will hold negotiations.

The armyman said that no talks will be held with the party that mocked national martyrs.

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