PTI’s Sheikh Waqas clarifies Bradford woman protester not associated with party
Sheikh Waqas Akram said the first phase of the civil disobedience movement is underway and it targets Pakistanis living abroad. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government would not go after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) UK as an organization, but would take legal action against specific individuals involved in incitement and threats, if necessary, under UK law, according to the Minister of State for Home Affairs.
“We will not go after PTI UK, but we will target the individuals involved,” Talal Chaudhry told The Express PK Press Club here, clarifying the government’s position while responding to questions on possible legal measures in the UK.
The controversy arose after the now-deleted clip, posted online from PTI UK’s verified account, showed a woman speaking to protesters outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford and referring to the army chief in the context of a possible car bomb attack, language that the government said crossed the line from political criticism to a suggestion of violence.
The Pakistani government has officially raised the issue with British authorities.
The move follows Islamabad’s decision to summon Acting British High Commissioner Matt Cannell on Friday, where the Foreign Office delivered a demarche condemning what it described as “incitement to violence” from British soil.
Pakistan has urged London to investigate the incident and take legal action in accordance with British law.
Talal said Pakistan had already received a response from the British authorities, who indicated that if an actionable case existed, relevant documents should be provided and they would be dealt with in accordance with British law.
He reiterated that the issue was not about free speech or political disagreement. “This is not about expanded freedom of expression, nor political consultation. Threats against the army chief are not freedom of expression,” he said, adding that there was no concept of absolute or uncontrolled freedom anywhere in the world.
Referring to international law, he said the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 and UN guidelines clearly prohibit the use of a sovereign country’s land for terrorist purposes or to incite violent activities against another state. Such actions, he added, are also covered by the United Nations Charter.
The minister further highlighted the PTI’s past, including the events of May 9, saying there was a documented history of incitement and violence linked to the party.
He warned that if British authorities took no action, Pakistan would pursue legal recourse within the British system. “This is not a trivial matter. It is a criminal matter which cannot be resolved by conviction alone and which requires strict legal action,” Talal stressed.
Meanwhile, in a statement on X, PTI UK confirmed that it had removed the video, calling the woman’s comments “metaphorical remarks” about the army chief.
Although the party said it did not believe the individual directly called for violence, it said the content was removed “with great caution to avoid possible misunderstandings.”
Pakistani officials say the video and its transcript were shared with British authorities, alongside a formal complaint accusing the speaker and those who amplified the footage of inciting terrorism and destabilizing.
PTI UK stressed that it did not condone illegal behavior and urged its supporters to exercise restraint in their public speeches. The Bradford protest was part of a series of overseas demonstrations organized by PTI supporters in solidarity with the party’s jailed founder Imran Khan, with slogans criticizing the Pakistani establishment.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also clarified the party’s position, in a statement he said, “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) categorically clarifies that the speech made by a woman at a protest in the United Kingdom has no connection with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The individual in question does not hold any official position in the party. The views expressed do not reflect the position, values or political philosophy of PTI fundamentally and unequivocally opposes violence, incitement, hate speech and use of offensive language.
Although the original video has been deleted, screenshots and republished clips continue to circulate online and have been cited by Pakistani authorities in correspondence with London.
The episode adds to the already strained ties between the PTI and the establishment. It also reflects Islamabad’s broader efforts to curb foreign-based criticism targeting state institutions, even as Britain assesses the extent to which diaspora political speech is protected before triggering a criminal investigation under anti-terrorism laws.
