The Pakistan Army sharply criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Friday, with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry calling him a “mentally ill person” and a growing national security threat.
Speaking at a long press conference in Rawalpindi, the army spokesperson accused the former prime minister of running an organised campaign against the armed forces, working with external elements, provoking unrest, and spreading disinformation.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Imran Khan’s narrative had crossed all limits and now directly threatened Pakistan’s internal security. He said the army was forced to respond because “nothing is above the state of Pakistan”.
The ISPR chief said the PTI founder’s personal ego had grown so much that “he believes if he is not there, then nothing should exist, not even Pakistan”. He said Imran Khan had repeatedly promoted an anti-army, anti-state narrative and used social media networks, including troll farms abroad, to amplify his messaging.
The spokesperson said Indian and Afghan media routinely picked up and boosted the PTI founder’s statements, further damaging Pakistan’s national security.
Lt Gen Chaudhry accused Imran of running a “scientific system” of coordinated troll activity and creating content cycles aimed at attacking senior military leadership. He also said the former premier had compared himself to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a dangerous political narrative.
The ISPR DG said the former premier was openly discouraging visits to national institutions like the National Defence University and ISPR, and had created divisions by labelling anyone who disagreed with him as a traitor.
He said that freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Constitution does not allow attacks on the state, the military, or national security.
The military spokesperson also reminded the public that Imran Khan had previously pushed for talks with banned militant groups and suggested opening an office for extremists in Peshawar. He said reviving such narratives was harmful, especially when security forces were fighting militants daily.
Lt Gen Chaudhry warned that anyone attacking Pakistan’s armed forces should expect a response, adding that troll networks being run from abroad would not weaken the army’s resolve.
He rejected online propaganda surrounding the notification of Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), calling the rumours “a flood of lies”.
He said Afghanistan-based accounts were also amplifying the PTI founder’s narrative at a time when Pakistan was executing a large-scale repatriation of illegal migrants.
The ISPR DG emphasised that the state is supreme, and the army operates strictly under the elected government. He added that the country had survived economic and security challenges only because its institutions remained united.
He urged the media to act responsibly, avoid feeding false narratives, and focus on real issues such as water shortages, population pressure, and food security.
Ending his briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the army would not allow a divide between itself and the people, warning political actors to stop dragging the military into their disputes.
“We will protect the state,” he said. “Pakistan will remain, and the Pakistan Army will remain.”
