Islamabad, 09 October (H.S.):

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that former prime minister Imran Khan will receive no relief if his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party continues to pursue a strategy of pressuring the government through its long march. He asserted that the government would not buckle under pressure. Asif also accused the PTI of working in collusion with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to a report by The News, Asif made the remarks during an interview with Geo News at the Parliament House in Islamabad, the country’s capital. “The PTI has joined hands with the TTP to declare war against Pakistan,” he said.

He described the party’s belief that it could blackmail the government by organising a long march as “a figment of its imagination”, asserting that the government would not yield to such pressure under any circumstances.

Asif further alleged that launching what he termed an “assault on Islamabad” every two or three months had become a habit for the PTI. He also questioned the party’s position on the TTP and its alleged Afghan patrons.

Referring to the Afghan Taliban leadership, Asif said, “Show me a single statement of theirs that is against the TTP or those who support it. The rulers in Kabul are patrons of the TTP.”

He alleged that militants were receiving funding and operating openly in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to him, the militants, rather than the provincial government, wielded influence in those areas.

“Is the incumbent chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not present there?” he asked.

Describing the situation as a case of “betrayal of the country and Pakistan”, the defence minister urged the PTI to return to the negotiating table, go back to its home province and focus on its responsibilities there.

“Come to the negotiating table and return home. Focus on your province,” Asif said.

He also called on the party to stop supporting militants and ensure that funding for them was halted. Warning the PTI against attempting to force its demands on the government through violence, he said, “Forget about making us accept your demands at gunpoint.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar