Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has criticized the timing and methods of protests organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing the party of exploiting sensitive occasions for political gain. Speaking to the media outside the NAB court in Karachi, Memon emphasized the need for responsible political conduct and warned against inciting violence under the guise of demonstrations.
Referring to recent protests, he alleged that PTI aimed to replicate the events of May 9, using demonstrations to destabilize the country and harm its global image. “Calling for protests during critical moments, like international visits or negotiations, is a deliberate attempt to tarnish Pakistan’s reputation,” Memon remarked, referencing the recent visit of the Belarusian President. He accused PTI of prioritizing personal agendas over national interests, stating that the party’s protests could have been held at a later date but were strategically timed for maximum disruption. Memon accused PTI of mobilizing armed groups during protests, pointing to casualties among police, Rangers, and Frontier Corps personnel as evidence.
“PTI sought to create casualties for political advantage,” he said, adding that the Interior Ministry’s timely intervention prevented further escalation. Sharjeel Memon alleged that PTI’s leadership, including Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, actively instigated violence during protests. “Bushra Bibi and Gandapur declared their intent to ‘take Imran Khan with them’ but fled when action was taken,” he said. He also criticized Gandapur’s misuse of government funds to support the demonstrations, claiming that resources were openly used to transport protesters.
While acknowledging Bushra Bibi’s respectability, Memon criticized her role as negative and incendiary, accusing her of inciting violence. He also denounced the PTI for indoctrinating innocent people with extremist rhetoric and compared its actions to terrorism. The minister contrasted PTI’s tactics with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), highlighting how PPP leaders faced imprisonment without resorting to violence or attacking state institutions.
“Even during long marches, when faced with obstacles and violence, our leadership instructed us never to harm the state,” Memon said. Memon questioned PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s credibility as a leader, pointing out the disparity between his revolutionary claims and the comfortable lives of his family abroad. “What kind of revolution is this where the children of the nation suffer while their leader’s children enjoy life overseas?” Sharjeel Memon also alleged that India and Israel financed PTI’s election campaigns, citing the late journalist Arshad Sharif’s revelations.
