Khawaja Asif urges PTI to avoid targeting state institutions

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold peaceful protests for the release of its leader but refrain from undermining state institutions.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif said that several political leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, had faced imprisonment and legal proceedings in the past but did not put the political system at risk.

He said that over the past two and a half years, PTI's political activities had largely revolved around its leader and criticised the party for what he described as a lack of participation in parliamentary proceedings.

The defence minister also accused PTI of targeting institutions for the sake of a single individual, saying such an approach was inappropriate.

Addressing the issue of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had made immense sacrifices to safeguard the region and that millions of Pakistanis had a stake in the Kashmir cause. He referred to the sacrifices made by Kashmiri migrants and stressed the importance of protecting their rights.

He further suggested that contentious political issues should be taken to the electorate for a democratic decision, adding that the state could not remain silent if individuals chose to take the law into their own hands.