Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed on Saturday that the rulers were “making lies to save their existence”.

Reacting to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement, Akram said, “The PTI workers have exposed the cruel behaviour by not attacking.”

“240 million dignified people are being blamed for escaping the ground,” said Akram.

Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasised the need for national unity, urging political parties to set aside differences and work collectively for the betterment of the country.

“Political differences can remain, but everyone must come together for the nation,” he said while speaking to the media in Sialkot.

He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating that the government offered the party to negotiate, but alleged that it wanted to meet the establishment only. "The PTI founder is heavily reliant on the establishment. He also got very close to (former army chief) Gen (retd) Bajwa," Asif added.

He further noted that when PTI founder Imran Khan's wife reached a safe spot during the party protest, her container was set on fire. "Maybe there was some evidence regarding police infiltration," he alleged.

The minister condemned the politicisation of journalism, asserting that journalists should not serve as tools for political parties. Referring to suspected cases involving journalists after the PTI protest, he said, "A journalist should not represent any political party. They were there that day as a political worker."

He also claimed that certain statements that journalists had made about journalist Matiullah Jan were indescribable. "If Rana Thanaullah gave any statement regarding the FIR against Matiullah Jan, he should get it investigated and dismissed. When he was arrested, he was present at a place where the killings took place."

Asif assured that restrictions on internet access and VPN blockage would be lifted within a few days.

He further referred to the PTI's recent protest march in Islamabad as "May 9 2.0", vowing that there would be no attacks now. "The people of [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] are our brothers. It is the duty of every citizen to deal with miscreants."

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