PTI slams govt for 'twisting' Qasim Khan's UN address to mislead public

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the incompetent and fascist-imposed regime for spreading venomous and misleading propaganda against Qasim Khan, son of PTI founder Imran Khan, and for manufacturing false narratives to distract the public from the country’s chronic issues and widespread political victimization.

Reacting firmly to this malicious campaign, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the unrepresentative regime has shamelessly attempted to politicize a son’s heartfelt appeal to meet his father, deliberately twisting his words from his recent address at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to mislead the public and distort facts for political gain.

Sheikh Waqas emphasized that neither Qasim Khan nor PTI senior leader Zulfi Bukhari made a single statement that could harm Pakistan’s national interests; on the contrary, they presented Pakistan’s position clearly and effectively on the international stage.

PTI CIS stated that propagandists had falsely claimed Qasim Khan called for the suspension of Pakistan’s Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade status. In reality, he emphasized, Qasim Khan’s speech was entirely devoted to human rights issues and a son’s earnest plea for the immediate release of his father, who has been unlawfully detained and subjected to solitary confinement in politically motivated and bogus cases.

Sheikh Waqas further stressed that Qasim Khan explicitly reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the GSP+ framework, underlining that his address was patriotic and focused solely on highlighting human rights violations, not undermining the nation’s interests.

Sheikh Waqas underscored that this deliberate misrepresentation is a desperate attempt by the regime to politicize a deeply personal matter and manipulate public perception. “This government should be ashamed for turning a son’s sincere appeal into propaganda, undermining both his basic human rights and Pakistan’s international standing,” he stated.

In particular, he emphasized that at no point did either Qasim Khan or PTI senior leader Zulfi Bukhari call for the suspension of Pakistan’s GSP Plus status with the European Union—a claim being maliciously propagated by multiple PML-N supporters and their cronies, who have consistently shown that they prioritize personal and political gains over the national interest.

PTI CIS said that as Qasim himself clarified on social media, “Today, I had the honour of speaking to the 47 countries that comprise the UNHRC, urging the immediate release of my father and all Pakistan’s political prisoners. Along with this, I want to be very clear. Like my father, I fully support maintaining GSP+ as the people of Pakistan should never be punished for the actions of its leaders. But the Pakistani regime must also fully comply with the 27 treaties it committed to follow to obtain this benefit, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention Against Torture.”

“Qasim Khan’s speech was clear, transparent, and patriotic. Anyone struggling to understand it should have it translated into Urdu to grasp the truth,” Sheikh Waqas said. He further noted that Zulfi Bukhari, at the 24:02-minute mark of his address, explicitly affirmed that “Pakistan must remain on the GSP+ status framework,” directly refuting these baseless accusations.

Sheikh Waqas also reminded that PTI leaders, including Imran Khan and party workers, have endured extreme persecution, politically motivated cases, unlawful detentions, and systemic harassment. Despite facing brutality and tyranny, they have never betrayed Pakistan’s national interest or uttered a word that could compromise the country’s international standing. “We have resisted every attempt to manipulate Pakistan’s image for political gain. Yet this fascist regime, lacking both competence and legitimacy, continues to destroy Pakistan across all sectors while twisting innocent statements to mislead the public,” he added.

PTI CIS also strongly criticized Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar for his shameful remarks against Pakistan regarding its offer to mediate a ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Sheikh Waqas questioned the regime’s silence, highlighting its hypocrisy: while it shamelessly twisted Qasim Khan’s statement to run malicious propaganda, it did not dare to respond to a foreign official’s insult to Pakistan’s sovereignty.

He reiterated that a son’s appeal to meet his father is a basic human right and must never be politicized. Sheikh Waqas demanded that Imran Khan be granted immediate access to his family and personal doctors and that his fundamental rights be fully respected. “History will remember Imran Khan’s leadership as one that consistently presented Pakistan as a sovereign, dignified, and principled state on the global stage,” he added.

Sheikh Waqas further emphasized that the illegitimate regime’s attempts to manipulate facts, spread lies, and divert public opinion will ultimately fail. PTI will continue to expose its tyranny, incompetence, and fascism, while steadfastly defending Pakistan’s constitutional values, sovereignty, and citizens’ rights, he added.