Info minister assails PTI, says attempt at disrespecting country’s dignity ‘unacceptable’

2026-03-26 - 10:00

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday assailed the PTI, stating the party’s “attempts” at disrespecting the country’s dignity under the guise of political disagreement were “unacceptable”. The comments come a day after Kasim Khan, the son of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, raised his father’s case at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), saying that the former prime minister’s treatment by authorities violated international human rights conventions as well as commitments made under the GSP+ framework. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the minister held that while it was every political party’s right to engage in criticism, the country’s dignity should not be put at stake”. He noted that an “unfortunate development” was seen in Geneva a day earlier, referring to Kasim’s speech at the UNHCR. “No political leader is bigger than Pakistan,” Tarar said, assailing the PTI for not putting “national interest first”. “The mockery of the country by the political opposition is unacceptable,” he said. ‘Growing anxiety’ in India over Pakistan’s role in Middle East At the outset of the press conference, Tarar said that there was “growing anxiety” in neighbouring India over Pakistan’s role in working towards a resolution amid tensions in the Middle East. Taking note of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts, he said, “Pakistan has emerged as a responsible state, which has relevance and its diplomatic efforts are being acknowledged worldwide”. However, he stressed that there seemed to be “growing anxiety in India over Pakistan’s enhanced role, significance and relevance”. The minister credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts. More to follow.