Pakistani Army Spokesman Under Fire After Winking at Female Journalist During Press Conference

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has come under significant criticism after winking at journalist Absa Koman following her question about imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the press briefing, footage shows the journalist inquiring about allegations against Khan, including claims that he was a "national security threat," "anti-state," and acting "at the behest of Delhi." She further asked how the current situation differed from the past and whether any developments might be expected.

Chaudhry's response included the remark, "And add a fourth point: he is also a zehni mareez (mental patient)," after which he smiled and winked at the reporter. This gesture triggered widespread condemnation on social media platforms.

One social media user commented, "This is openly happening in the presence of a camera. Democracy is over in Pakistan. PM is a puppet," while another described Pakistan as "A meme of a nation."

In a separate statement on Friday, Chaudhry referred to Khan as a "narcissist" with extreme political ambitions, suggesting Khan believed "If I am not in power, nothing else should exist," though he did not explicitly name the former prime minister.

The military spokesman claimed that individuals meeting Khan in detention were being manipulated "to spread poison against the army." He accused Khan of attempting to incite hostility toward the military, stating, "We will not allow anyone to create rifts between Pakistan's military and its people." Chaudhry emphasized that constitutional rights have limitations, particularly regarding national security threats.

He also repeated the military's allegations connecting Khan to the May 9, 2023, attacks on military installations, including the Rawalpindi headquarters, asking rhetorically, "Was it not this same individual who orchestrated those attacks?"

These attacks occurred following Khan's arrest, when thousands of his supporters reportedly stormed military and government facilities. Khan has consistently denied involvement in the unrest.

Chaudhry's comments appeared to be in response to Khan's social media post, in which the former prime minister called Pakistan's Army Chief Munir a "mentally unstable person" and accused him of causing "the complete collapse of the Constitution and rule of law in Pakistan."