Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan revealed on Wednesday that Imran Khan, the party’s incarcerated founder, has expressed support for the idea of transforming Pakistan into a “hard state.” Imran Khan emphasized the need for a strong state where the law is consistently upheld and equal justice is served for all citizens.
In an interview with private news channel, Gohar quoted Imran as saying that a “hard state” would ensure the rule of law and the uniform implementation of justice across the country. “Imran said Pakistan should not remain a soft state, where the law is not consistently enforced,” Gohar added.
Imran Khan, 71, has been imprisoned since August 2023, facing a range of charges from corruption to terrorism. His endorsement of this position follows statements made by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, who called for a more robust approach to governance.
Last month, General Munir blamed the “soft state” image for the increasing loss of innocent lives amid rising terrorism in the country. During a high-level, in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, which several major opposition parties, including PTI, skipped, the army chief questioned how long the armed forces would continue to fill the “gaps in governance” with the blood of martyrs.
“We need better governance… we should make Pakistan a hard state,” General Munir stated, referring to the growing security challenges faced by the country.
The session came on the heels of a major terrorist attack in Balochistan, where militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) targeted the Jaffar Express, a passenger train with over 440 people on board. The attackers blew up a railway track and took passengers hostage. A security operation neutralized 33 attackers and rescued the hostages.
In the session, General Munir reaffirmed that national security must take precedence over any other agenda, movement, or individual. “If this country exists, so do we; therefore, nothing is more important to us than its security,” he said, urging all elements of national power to work together for lasting stability. “This is a fight for the nation’s survival and for the future of generations to come.”
PTI Protest in Parliament House
Meanwhile, PTI members staged a protest inside the Parliament House, led by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan. The PTI lawmakers chanted slogans demanding the release of Imran Khan. Speaking to reporters, Ayub condemned the ongoing treatment of PTI leaders and workers, criticizing the disregard for the Constitution and law, which he said discourages investment in the country.
Ayub also responded to suggestions from government lawmakers that the situation could be resolved if Imran Khan sought forgiveness. “Yesterday, we were subjected to violence,” Ayub said, referring to the detention of Imran’s sisters and other party leaders. He called prominent PTI figures such as Bushra Bibi, Yasmin Rashid, Mahmood Rashid, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Salar Kakaar “political prisoners.”
“We are all ready to sacrifice everything, even our lives, but we will remain loyal to Imran,” Ayub vowed.
