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.

“Every country globally considers Pakistan relevant, while on the other hand, a political party which functions as a cult [..] and engages in anti-state propaganda,” Tarar said.

The minister also recalled that the PTI had attempted to “sabotage” the country’s affairs before.

He said it was the same party which “wrote letters to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and appealed that Pakistan should not be given a bailout package in 2022”.

“They thought their leader was bigger than Pakistan,” he said, adding that the party leadership had also attempted to cast doubt over Pakistan’s GSP+ status in 2024.

Speaking about the issue of the former premier’s sons’ visas, the minister said, “We decided that we will welcome the sons of Imran Ahmed Niazi to Pakistan with an open heart, but make use of the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop)”.

“Why did we do that? Because you should come here as Pakistani citizens,” he said.

“If you are a Pakistani, then would it not be better for you to use your Nicop, rather than making up stories on how they might be arrested,” he said.

“We said we would welcome you, but we were aware of your nefarious designs,” he added.

Referring to Kasim’s speech, the minister maintained that “it was not a one-off incident — wish he had done it without a paper in his hand, however, but that is okay, they are kids”.

“Someone must have written it for him,” he added.

Tarar, in response to a question, also said that the opposition PTI did not “exist” as a political party in the parliament.

“PTI does not exist as a political party, there is no PTI in parliament,” he said, adding that while there were “some seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council and some independent members, PTI as a political party does not exist as per the current laws of the constitution of Pakistan”.

In the 2024 General Elections, several PTI-backed candidates joined the SIC after they won the Feb 8 elections as their party was deprived of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ in a SC ruling.

‘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.

Azma Bokhari likens Kasim’s speech to ‘another May 9’

Separately, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari likened Kasim’s speech at the UNHRC to “another May 9”, particularly in its “implication” for Pakistan’s GSP+ status.

While addressing a press briefing, she noted Kasim’s entire argument hinged on the fact that “his father is in jail and his human rights were being violated”.

“Does he not remember what happened under his father’s watch in 2019 and the human rights violations during his time?” she questioned.

“He is in jail because of legitimate cases against him,” she added.

“They have tried everything, and this is another May 9 that has been orchestrated against Pakistan,” she said.

She continued: “Records have been shared already on the facilities he has in jail [..] these are not human rights violations.

She held that PTI was attempting to sabotage the country’s economic goals.

“India has the same agenda [..] how do they have these agendas in common,” she added.

‘Politicising a son’s appeal to meet father unfortunate’

For its part, the PTI condemned Tarar’s and Bokhari’s remarks about Kasim’s speech, saying that whoever, including the two ministers, found it difficult to understand Kasim’s “simple and clear statement” should get it translated into Urdu. “Maybe then they will understand what he actually said,” the party said in its condemnatory statement.

The PTI said the government and its allies should be ashamed for “mocking a son’s fundamental human right” and spinning a false narrative around the issue.

It further stated that Imran “always presented Pakistan as a sovereign and dignified state at the global stage”.

“Under his leadership, Pakistan prioritised its national interest at every forum,” it said, adding that the PTI had always advocated for the state’s dignity, supremacy of the Constitution, and protection of the rights of people.

On the other hand, “the PML-N’s past has plenty of statements that went against national interests”, the PTI alleged. In this connection, the party also mentioned PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s remarks about 2008 Mumbai attacks, claiming that the former premier “levelled allegations against Pakistan that damaged Pakistan’s stance at the global stage and strengthened the hostile narrative” against the country.

The PTI said “politicising a son’s appeal to meet his father” was “unfortunate”, demanding that Imran should immediately be granted access to his family members and personal physicians, and that his fundamental human rights should be respected.