Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly condemned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans to hold protests on key dates coinciding with major international cricket events in the country.

He labelled the move as an “anti-national attempt to isolate and embarrass Pakistan on the cricket field".

In a couple of posts on his official X account, Asif said the PTI has formally sought permission to stage a protest in Lahore on February 8, the same day Pakistan is set to host New Zealand for the first match of their tri-nation series at Gaddafi Stadium.

He said the PTI has also announced a long march on February 19, coinciding with the opening match of the Champions Trophy, which is being hosted in Pakistan for the first time in years.

asif tweets

"This is not a coincidence; it is a deliberate effort to sabotage Pakistan's hard-earned return to hosting international cricket. They want to snatch the Champions Trophy from Pakistan, and that is unacceptable," Asif posted.

He accused the PTI of prioritizing political interests over national pride. “Even his [Imran Khan’s] supporters had no idea that a leader could stoop so low for political gains,” he remarked.

Targeting the army chief?

In another post on X, Asif quoted political analyst Muneeb Farooq as saying that "when he saw that his letter had been discarded as trash, Imran Khan has again started to target the army chief of Pakistan. They want to create an atmosphere regarding February 8 and their target is the Pakistan Army and the army chief."

Responding to this comment, the minister criticised the PTI's repeated confrontations with state institutions. “Every country has its red lines that guarantee its security. Imran Khan and his followers have crossed these lines many times since losing power. The consequences are not far off. How long will they continue attacking the very foundation of this country?” Asif questioned.