PTI Chairman Gohar Ali calls for calm amid rising tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali has called on pro-democracy forces to help defuse the rising political tension, expressing her “disappointment” over remarks that directly targeted her party and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Several PTI leaders shared the tweet after a press conference by ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry as the Pakistan Army spokesperson expressed regret over Khan’s alleged “anti-army” narrative, which he warned had gone beyond politics and turned into a “national security threat”.

Reacting on social media, Gohar stressed the need for mutual respect and dialogue. He urged pro-democracy groups to play an active role in reducing tensions, saying, “This is the time to acknowledge each other, create space for dialogue and restore trust.”

Deploring the military briefing, Gohar reaffirmed PTI’s loyalty to the state. “Pakistan’s defense is paramount. PTI has never been anti-state, and it is extremely worrying when political leaders or state institutions consider each other a threat or question each other’s health. Pakistan belongs to all of us, including the army, and PTI has always demonstrated this commitment,” he said.

He also warned that actions by “specific non-stakeholders,” without naming anyone, should not become a cause for conflict between PTI and state institutions. He highlighted that the situation could improve if meetings with detained Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were allowed. He warned that the country cannot afford tension and chaos.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja slammed the reactionary response, saying “a disturbing reaction is not a political strategy.” Imran’s nominee for parliamentary leader in the National Assembly condemned the derogatory remarks against KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, calling them an insult to the entire Pashtun nation and tribal communities.

With tensions rising, the PTI leadership is now appealing to all parties to tone down their rhetoric and prevent further instability, warning that Pakistan’s political landscape cannot withstand prolonged chaos.