Talal Chaudhry says PTI’s rhetoric pushed army to respond

ISLAMABAD
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Monday that the PTI’s “unjustified” criticism of the army had pushed the institution to respond. bIn remarks aired on the media, he also accused the opposition party of repeatedly criticising the army and its leadership for its own political gains.
Referring to arguments by the PTI that the army should not interfere in politics, Chaudhry said, “The army is not intervening in politics. You, in order to further your own politics or to come into power by riding on someone else’s shoulders, repeatedly try to drag the army and its head into politics.
“You direct unjustified and unnecessary criticism [at them]. You level allegations without any reason,” he said. He said the army had been serving the country and recalled that it defeated a “big power in the world” recently — an apparent reference to the conflict between Pakistan and India in May.
The state minister further said that the army took pride in its martyrs, victories and in protecting Pakistan, “and you criticise it and its head for no reason”. “For how long will the institution remain silent? Eventually, it had to respond. The PTI pushed them to respond,” he added.
“The army and its head showed patience and overlooked [the criticism] for a very long time. But every other day, the PTI founder in his tweets and messages, and others in press conferences after meeting Imran, would make unjustified accusations and criticise.” The state minister also alleged that the PTI never criticised India’s aggression or condemned terrorists.
“Having a soft spot for those terrorists […] and directing all criticism toward Pakistan’s institutions, Pakistan’s army and its head, warrants an answer,” he asserted.“How long can it be ignored, how long can it be overlooked?”
He further stated that the government had invited the PTI to Parliament for talks multiple times. “But we are now embarrassed to have invited these types of people for talks, those who are not worthy of it.”
Chaudhry went on to allege that Imran “came into power by riding on someone else’s shoulders”. He further said that after that only a “mentally ill patient” would consider himself a “know-it-all” and “necessary” for the country. He further alleged that Imran had come into power in 2018 with the support of the military establishment.
“And since no one is supporting you today, you are levelling criticism in an effort to blackmail the army so that you can compel them into supporting your rise to power again,” Chaudhry alleged. The state minister also questioned the PTI’s performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last 13 years.