The opposition in the Punjab Assembly criticized the labeling as "security threat" one of the most popular leaders of Pakistan in the past and currently the founding president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan. Leader of Opposition Moeen Riaz Qureshi said the blame for poor governance of the current administration was unfairly placed on state institutions. "Separate the military from politics. People end up blaming the military," he said. Addressing the gathering, the opposition leader accused the government of pushing a major political party "against the wall" and create conditions that could plunge the country into another "dark chapter of history."
Qureshi said PTI founder was "one of the greatest leaders of the Muslim world" with followers across the world, raising the question of whether the government’s current approach serves the national interest. "Are you doing good for this country or are you leading it into another dark night?" he asked. He said history showed that Pakistan’s most popular leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, had all been labeled security threats at different times.
"Our leader openly says that the army is ours and the country is ours," he added. He said it’s not the old era, it’s the social media era. Qureshi said the government cannot hide anything in the modern era. "In today’s world, a news story reaches the entire world in one minute," he said, adding that people saw on social media how a political party was allegedly blocked from running in the elections. He said the "the most popular leader in the world" was behind bars with his wife, while his sisters were "desperate just to catch a glimpse of him."
The opposition leader claimed that false charges had been filed against opposition leaders across the country, saying six assembly members were also facing charges. Qureshi said the PTI never encouraged violence and demanded the formation of a judicial commission into the May 9 events. He accused the government of hiding behind "the establishment to prolong its illegitimate reign," alleging that his hands were "marred by corruption and bad governance."
The Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution welcoming the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Pakistan Defense Forces (CDF), stating that the development is an important milestone in the country’s military evolution and a source of national pride. The resolution stated that this appointment had strengthened Pakistan’s stature internationally and marked the beginning of a "new and golden chapter" in the history of the country’s defense. He added that the decision had "pissed off all enemies including India," and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening and securing its borders. According to the text, the new designation is a "important landmark" for the country’s defense system, and the nation has complete confidence in the leadership of the Chief of Defense Forces. The resolution expressed the full confidence of the Punjab Assembly in the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The assembly commended the armed forces for their continued efforts towards economic stability and national security, noting that the restoration of internal peace and the defensive strength of the country constituted the basis for economic and social progress.
