Khawaja Asif Warns PTI: No Relief for Imran Khan Under Pressure

Islamabad – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the government will not bend under pressure from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He warned that a long march will not bring any relief for the party’s founder, Imran Khan.

He made these remarks in a talk with Geo News at Parliament House in Islamabad. The minister said the government cannot be forced to change its stand through street power.

Asif called it “wishful thinking” that PTI could blackmail the state with a long march. He said it has become a habit for the party to head toward Islamabad every two or three months.

The minister also made a serious charge against the party. He said PTI has stood with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and has, in his words, declared war on Pakistan together with the group. These are the minister’s claims, and the report does not carry a response from PTI.

Asif then questioned the party’s silence. He asked for a single statement from PTI against the TTP or against those who back the group.

He pointed toward the Afghan Taliban leadership in Kabul. He described the rulers there as patrons of the TTP and asked why PTI has never spoken against them.

The minister also turned his attention to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that armed militants move freely in several districts of the province. According to him, the provincial government has no control in those areas.

He asked whether the current chief minister was not present in the province. The question was meant to show that, in his view, the provincial leadership has failed on security.

Asif described the situation as dishonesty toward the country. He said the links and planning between the groups were becoming clear to everyone.

He also referred to an earlier statement by a senior PTI leader about causing destruction in Islamabad. The minister said those words showed what the party really feels.

The defence minister then gave a direct warning. If the party chooses blackmail, he said, he sees no relief for Imran Khan in the future. He added that the government will not give any relief under pressure.

At the same time, he left the door open for talks. Asif urged PTI to come to the negotiating table and then go home. He told the party to focus on the affairs of its own province.

He also asked the party to stop supporting terrorists and to cut off their money. He said no one should think that demands can be forced on the government at gunpoint.

The minister also spoke about opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai. Achakzai had recently said he would visit Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Murree.

Asif said Nawaz Sharif has an old relationship with him. He described Achakzai as a second-generation political worker.

He said he would certainly ask Achakzai to play his role. In his view, the opposition leader should talk about Pakistan and its unity.

Asif ended with a call for national unity. He said everyone should fight together against terrorists backed from Afghanistan.

The remarks show how sharp the divide between the government and PTI has become. Whether talks take place or the party goes ahead with its march remains to be seen.