Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Information and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiyar Wali Khan addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
ISLAMABAD:
The government continued to lay the groundwork for decisive action against the embattled PTI on Wednesday, as political tensions escalated after a military spokesperson’s critical remarks about Imran Khan, whom the government has defended and linked to national security concerns.
The latest salvo was launched by Prime Minister’s Information Coordinator on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan, saying “things have reached a point of no return”.
Addressing a press conference, he said the PTI had systematically targeted the institution that had made the nation proud at the global level.
Wali criticized the PTI for its recent actions, warning the party: “We have tolerated you with much grace and for the sake of democracy. However, things have now reached a point of no return, pity and tolerance.
“All doors to negotiations are now closed,” Wali said.
He went on to say that anyone supporting the incarcerated PTI founder “represented the desecration of the sovereignty, honor and development of Pakistan”.
“We do not want to label anyone a traitor or ban any political party,” he continued. However, he stressed that “given the current state of affairs, I ask people what they [else] can be done.”
He accused the PTI of attacking state institutions, promoting hatred and destabilizing the country using different means, including false narratives.
The coordinator questioned the PTI’s performance during its years in power, saying that despite 13 years of rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the party could not build a single major hospital or university. “What project did the PTI build during its rule? » he asked, alleging that the party’s policies had harmed the younger generation by spreading hatred.
“It is a blessing from God that the Centre, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan have remained safe from the dirty politics of PTI,” he remarked, warning that the government “will now liberate KP too”.
Commenting on PTI’s recent political rally in Peshawar, Wali said they failed to gather even a modest crowd at his rally in Peshawar, despite mobilizing people from across the country. He alleged that the party regularly used religion for political purposes and had adopted “a political approach that encourages extremism”.
He further drew a comparison between the PTI and the banned groups, saying “there is no difference between the TTP and the PTI.”
He held the PTI responsible for incidents such as those of May 9 and November 26, saying the party had repeatedly harmed national interests.
Responding to speculation regarding governor’s rule in KP, he remarked, “If we had intended to impose governor’s rule, we would have done it after the November 26 incident. »
He further alleged that PTI’s social media channels were being operated from India and Israel, adding that Indian media was actively promoting what he called the “false narrative” of the PTI founder’s family.
Concluding his speech, he reaffirmed his commitment to national unity, declaring: “My choice is Pakistan. Long live Pakistan.”
Sharjeel Inam Memon
Sindh Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon said the events of May 9 can never be forgotten and urged political leaders to recognize their past mistakes for the sake of the country’s stability.
Addressing a press conference at the Sindh House in Islamabad, Memon said the individual who was “brought to power through manipulation in 2018” had not only stolen the public mandate but also failed to provide meaningful governance during his three-and-a-half-year tenure.
Criticizing the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, he said its leaders still only talk about Shaukat Khanum Hospital and the university project, but cannot cite any major development initiatives dating back to their tenure.
He said the PTI era would be remembered as a “dark period” marked by political victimization and attacks on democratic institutions.
The minister said it was ironic that the former prime minister was now being held up as a hero despite his past claims that he had “ideal relations with the establishment”.
He questioned why PTI leaders did not talk about democratic norms when they were in government, recalling incidents such as the election of the Senate chairman and the party’s stance during the censorship episode.
Memon accused the PTI government of gross human rights violations, including arrests of political opponents, media trials and filing of fabricated cases.
He recalled the arrest of President Asif Ali Zardari and how Faryal Talpur was sent to jail on the night of Eid. “Their era was the worst form of authoritarianism,” he added.
Memon also criticized the PTI’s alleged international lobbying, saying that foreign media, including in India, were readily opening their doors to party leaders and their family members.
He also questioned why Israel – accused globally of serious human rights violations – had expressed concern over the arrest of the PTI founder.
The minister said his party does not call anyone a traitor, but called on PTI leaders to practice responsible politics and refrain from inciting youth to hatred and destruction.
Memon stressed that the government remains open to dialogue and believes that political issues should be resolved through talks.
However, he said the PTI had repeatedly refused to engage. “We always want political reconciliation, but politicians must admit their mistakes. The nation cannot forget the events of May 9, nor the attack on Quaid-e-Azam’s residence,” he said.
He said the PTI founder was neither a “superman” nor had he achieved anything extraordinary. “We cannot ignore what happened to the country,” he said.
