Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan seeks to weaken the country and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the role of the deposed prime minister and his family has now become fully evident.

Asif has termed Aleema Khan’s statement as being against the integrity of Pakistan. He said that Aleema Khan had suggested that if Imran Khan was not released, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies should jointly shut down Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stressed that Pakistan is not a personal estate, neither his nor that of Imran Khan and his family.

The defence minister pointed out that whether it is terrorism in Balochistan or the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the country is passing through difficult and challenging times. He underlined that soldiers are laying down their lives in defence of the motherland and expressed confidence that, just as Pakistan was saved from bankruptcy, the nation would overcome these challenges as well.

He maintained that the entire politics of the PTI begins and ends with the imprisonment of Imran. He added that even a working relationship between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the centre remains unacceptable to the PTI.

Asif said: "A country of 250 million people, whose rights are equal to those of Imran Khan. Imran Khan must face the law."

He said that the knots tied by him for the country are now being undone with great difficulty, adding that the party [PTI] has never shown the capacity to speak on Pakistan’s real issues or the eternal sacrifices of the martyrs.