Army not interested in talks with political parties, Says DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD – June 27, 2025: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has clearly stated that the Pakistan Army does not wish to be involved in political negotiations or discussions between political parties.

In a recent interview with the BBC, DG ISPR emphasized the importance of keeping the military institution separate from politics, noting that this stance has been consistently maintained. “It is the responsibility of political parties to hold dialogue with each other. The military has no role in such engagements,” he stated.

He further clarified that the armed forces only communicate with the state, not with individual political parties. Under the Constitution of Pakistan, it is the government in power that represents the state, and the military acts under its command. “Our loyalty is to the state, not to any party or personality,” he said.

Ahmed Sharif also expressed concern over the increasing use of the military’s name in political narratives, urging politicians and media to refrain from dragging the institution into partisan matters. He criticized false rumors and assumptions that are often spread to create mistrust and tension, especially on social media platforms.

He made it clear that questions regarding political instability, governance, or electoral issues should be addressed to political stakeholders, not the military.

“We request that politics remain in the political domain. The military should not be included in such matters,” he added.

Related Development: Imran Khan’s Bail Petitions Rejected

In a separate but related development, the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected post-arrest bail petitions filed by former Prime Minister and PTI founder, Imran Khan, in eight cases linked to the May 9 riots.

The LHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, dismissed the bail pleas connected to:

• The Jinnah House attack

• The Askari Tower case

• The Shadman Police Station arson

These incidents were part of a wave of unrest and violent protests that erupted across the country last year, for which Imran Khan and several PTI leaders are facing serious charges.