In Lahore, amidst escalating political unrest, a surge in terrorist activities, and heightened border tensions, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has raised concerns regarding national security. They have urged both the state and government to swiftly realign their priorities and take a resolute stance in safeguarding the nation's security.
On a Thursday, a PTI spokesperson paid heartfelt tribute to the courageous soldiers who valiantly thwarted a terrorist incursion along the Pak-Afghan border. These brave individuals, who made the ultimate sacrifice in thwarting the nefarious intentions of terrorists, are hailed as national heroes. PTI extends their deepest sympathies and solidarity to the bereaved families of these martyrs.
The spokesperson emphasized that national security is currently the most delicate and pressing concern, with looming threats causing great disquiet. Over the past 17 months, the increasing presence of terrorists, particularly in border regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has become a profound concern for both the state and government. The mounting tension along the Pak-Afghan border and armed incursions are serious worries for Pakistan.
The spokesperson highlighted that Pakistan, along with its law enforcement agencies and armed forces, has made monumental sacrifices in the prolonged battle against terrorism. The resurgence of this menace in previously stabilized regions poses a formidable challenge to the state.
Due to a severe economic downturn, internal restlessness, and mounting anxieties stretching across the nation, from Kashmir to Gilgit and from Karachi to Gwadar, the challenges to national security are intensifying.
The spokesperson stated that the flagrant departure from constitutional norms, violation of human rights, and the reluctance to steer the nation's politics away from coercion and lawlessness are primary drivers behind the disruptive chaos diverting the state's attention and resources.
Issues such as economic recovery, border defense, and national security require an extraordinary allocation of state resources, comprehensive institutional collaboration, and meticulous attention. A new approach must be adopted by both the state and government to address the gravity of the situation.
PTI maintained that the state should aim to unite the nation as a politically cohesive entity instead of sowing seeds of discord and division through unconstitutional actions and vindictive tactics. They asserted that a government with a public mandate can effectively address the nation's complex challenges by upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, adhering to the rule of law, and restoring the true spirit of democracy.
Furthermore, PTI strongly condemned the allocation of taxpayers' money to the media in an attempt to stifle its voice. They labeled this as a disgraceful act by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rulers. The spokesperson decried the expenses incurred by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for advertisements, labeling them as shameful and embarrassing.
These expenditures illuminated how certain individuals misused advertisements as a vehicle for political bribery and deception to gain state patronage. Incompetent leaders spent approximately Rs10 billion on misleading propaganda within just 16 months, the spokesperson said, adding that the leaders of the PDM blatantly lied to the Supreme Court and withheld funds for elections, thereby denying the rights of 170 million voters in Punjab and Pakhtunkhwa.
The spokesperson alleged that with this Rs10 billion, the media was coerced into fueling division within the nation, stoking the flames of hatred, undermining the judiciary, and supporting a reprehensible attack on the constitution and democracy. He argued that following the promotion of political bribery, the cynical attempts to normalize bribery culture within the media stood as a disgraceful example of mafia politics.
The spokesperson concluded that "Tehreek-e-Insaf is committed to advancing the principles of freedom of expression and communication, along with the welfare of journalists, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution."