Talal Chaudhry warns of tougher action than Nov 26 if PTI fuels unrest

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spreads chaos, the response will be even tougher than the action taken on November 26.

Talal Chaudhry said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing serious issues such as terrorism, health, and education, but the provincial leadership is neglecting its responsibilities. He added that the events of November 26 and May 9, followed by writing a letter to the IMF, and then continuously promoting a narrative that destabilizes Pakistan—whether echoing India or Israel, or coming with slight changes in wording from the PTI founder’s Twitter (X) account—are extremely inappropriate and hurtful.

He said that such behavior does not befit a political party, yet despite all this, the government is showing restraint. The former prime minister, he said, repeatedly expresses positions on his Twitter (X) account that, with wordplay, resemble an anti-Pakistan narrative and are similar to those of India and Israel.

The Minister of State for Interior said that the facilities provided to Imran Khan are unprecedented in Pakistan’s history for any prisoner. Whoever meets him says that he is healthy and fit, exercising regularly, eating good food, with a doctor available 24 hours a day and attendants present round the clock.

He added that these are the only people who spread rumors about their leader—sometimes claiming he has died, sometimes saying he is not even in jail. Every few months such rumors are circulated, and each time they are proven false.

Responding to a question about whether a military operation can be launched without taking a provincial chief minister into confidence, Talal Chaudhry said that the ongoing actions are under the National Action Plan. He noted that the National Action Plan was formulated first during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure and again during Imran Khan’s tenure, with the consensus of all provinces and political parties, and it is still being implemented today.

He said that Iran is Pakistan’s brotherly Islamic country, and Pakistan wants peace in the region with issues resolved through dialogue. He added that around 1.4 million Afghan nationals have been sent back to Afghanistan in different phases, while 1.5 million are still present in Pakistan.

Regarding Afghan students studying in Pakistan, Talal Chaudhry said that visas have been extended for those facing medical issues or who are in their final semester. Visa extensions are possible through legal means, but students must also reside in Pakistan legally.