Pakistan’s Planning Minister Says He Would Have Used “Harsher Words” Than DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that the Director-General of the ISPR exercised restraint in his recent remarks, adding that he himself would have used even “stronger language” while responding to criticism directed at state institutions.

In an official statement, Iqbal recalled that he was once detained in the same cell “under a false case,” yet he never spoke against Pakistan while abroad. “Pakistan is like a family,” he said. “We do not take our internal disputes outside our home, nor do we settle them overseas.”

The minister emphasized the need for all political actors to act responsibly and warned that any individual or group targeting Pakistan’s institutions or armed forces should face strict action. He added that democratic mandates must be respected across the board, regardless of political differences.

Iqbal’s comments come amid heightened political tensions, with government officials criticizing opposition figures for statements perceived as damaging to national unity and national security.