ISLAMABAD : Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has launched a sharp criticism against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing the party of cherry-picking where it contests elections based on its control of the local government.
In a statement on the social media platform ‘X’, Asif claimed the PTI is only enthusiastic about elections in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it leads the government. He alleged that with its own administration in power, the PTI can “draw the result of their choice.”
“خیبر پختونخوا میں الیکشن لڑنے کو تیار، کیونکہ اپنی حکومت ہے، اپنی مرضی کا نتیجہ نکال سکتے ہیں۔
•“پنجاب میں الیکشن سے راہِ فرار، کیونکہ وہاں عوام کی طاقت سے شکست یقینی ہے۔”
•“جہاں کرسی اور حکومت ہو، وہاں الیکشن شوق سے… جہاں عوام کا فیصلہ ہو، وہاں بائیکاٹ۔”
•“خیبر پختونخوا میں…— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) August 26, 2025
In contrast, he stated that the party is boycotting elections in Punjab because it faces “a certainty of defeat with the power of the people,” implying they lack the courage to accept the public’s decision there.
The Defense Minister characterized this strategy not as a genuine electoral process but as a “game of choice.” He summed up his criticism by saying, “This is not with public trust, they want to win the election with the government machinery.”
He concluded by calling this approach the “real politics” of PTI, which he labeled as “‘total two-digit’,” suggesting it is focused on manipulation rather than public support.
Also read: PTI’s violent protests on National days are now a routine: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
