ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar on Monday backed the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement urging party chief Imran Khan to pursue legal action rather than levelling “baseless allegations” against a senior military official.
The endorsement from Umar came after the military strongly criticized the former prime minister for his “irresponsible and baseless allegations” against a serving senior officer.
“[The] chairman PTI has levelled highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior military officer without any evidence,” said ISPR Director-General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. The statement also warned Khan to pursue legal avenues instead of making unsubstantiated claims.
Umar Advocates Legal Resolution
In response, Asad Umar tweeted that he “totally” agreed with the military’s stance, stating that taking legal recourse would be a constructive approach. He noted that Imran Khan had already attempted legal action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) and appealing to the Supreme Court regarding the senior intelligence officer’s alleged involvement.
The PTI chairman has accused the senior military official, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of orchestrating an assassination attempt on him on November 3, 2022. However, he has yet to provide evidence to substantiate these claims, which the accused officials have vehemently denied.
ISPR Warns of Legal Action Against False Allegations
In its statement, the ISPR reiterated that the institution reserves the right to pursue legal action against false and malicious statements. It urged political leaders to avoid maligning individuals or institutions without evidence, emphasizing that such actions undermine trust and stability.
“The institution supporting that legal recourse would be a very positive step forward,” Umar said, aligning himself with the military’s position.
Imran Khan Questions Equality Before the Law
Before the military issued its statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Imran Khan’s accusations, leading the PTI chief to question whether military officers are above the law.
Khan asked via Twitter, “As someone who has suffered two assassination attempts on his life in the last few months, can I dare to ask the following questions? Do I, as a citizen, have the right to nominate those I feel were responsible for assassination attempts on me? Why was I denied my legal and constitutional right to register an FIR?”
The former premier further questioned whether Shehbaz Sharif’s comments implied that military officers could not be held accountable for potential crimes. “Does this mean military officers are above the law, or that they cannot commit a crime?” Khan wondered.
He also accused powerful individuals of sabotaging the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the Wazirabad incident during the PTI-led Punjab government’s tenure. Khan stated that such obstructions raise questions about institutional accountability, adding, “If these questions point to one powerful man and his accomplices, does it mean they are all above the law?”
Khan concluded by lamenting the lack of accountability, saying, “It is time for us to officially declare that in Pakistan, there is only the law of the jungle, where might is right.”