Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) said that it would not support any operation against terrorism unless it has public approval, arguing that national security decisions must be taken by consensus.
The party has also accused the government of imposing a “civil martial law”, of suppressing dissent and not effectively approaching terrorism.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the PTI information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, said the current administration was silent the votes of the opposition and produced arbitrary arrests. He criticized the treatment of security issues, saying that military operations demanding that public confidence succeed.
“Decisions cannot be imposed by force. If people do not support an anti-terrorist operation, PTI either,” said Akram.
He compared the current situation to previous security efforts, such as the Swat operation, which was debated in Parliament before being implemented.
He also said that the security situation in Pakistan had worsened since 2022, with an increase in terrorist incidents.
According to him, a major reason is the extended difference between the public and the state. “Terrorists know that the nation is divided and does not resist the government,” he said, adding that unity between public and state institutions was crucial to fight threats.
Akram accused the government of directing the country by force rather than democratic means, declaring that Pakistan was actually under the “civil martial law”. He allegedly alleged that anyone who speaks against the administration was being reduced to silence, including the members of the PTI and social media activists.
“It is not Pakistan of Quaid-Ezam. People are kidnapped for having expressed their opinions. If someone has committed a crime, continue them in court, not by kidnapping,” he said.
He referred to the recent disappearance of the social media activist, Haider Saeed, saying that he had been taken without regular procedure. “Haider is not even officially part of PTI’s social media team, but he was picked up. If he did something wrong, present it before a court instead of the Abduir,” he asked.
The head of the PTI also allegedly alleged that several other social media workers had been arrested and that their accounts were closed. “Five of our social media workers are in detention, but none was presented before a judge. This government has transformed the legal system into a joke,” he added.
On the political level, Akram revealed that PTI worked actively to form an opposition alliance. He said the party aims to launch demonstrations nationally against the government shortly after Eid.
“We are in contact with other opposition leaders, and our goal is to unite against this oppression,” he said.
He confirmed that PTI had already had talks with the chief of Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman and now only a meeting with the founding president of PTI, Imran Khan, is expected. “Once we have finalized things with Imran Khan, we will move forward with a joint strategy,” he said.
Regarding PTI’s participation in a future security briefing in the camera, Akram said that party leaders would decide soon. “As it concerns national security, we can participate, but a final decision will be made after internal discussions,” he added.
By concluding its remarks, Akram warned the government against the decision by force, declaring that only democratic consensus and legal legality can face security and political crises in the country.
