The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has responded to the military spokesperson’s press conference and said that it has rejected the demand for an apology over May 9 violence.

“The DG ISPR’s demand for apology while describing a political party representing millions of people as anarchists is unanimously rejected,” a statement of the PTI’s core committee said on Friday.

Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif’s May 7 press conference had ruled out any dialogue with PTI and called for an apology.

When asked if there was a possibility of any dialogue with the PTI, he replied: “If some political mindset, leader or clique attacks its own army, causes rifts between the army and its people, insults the nation’s martyrs and issues threats and hatches propaganda, then there can be no dialogue with them. There is only one way back for such political anarchists that it [PTI] asks for an earnest apology in front of the nation and promises that it will forgo politics of hate and adopt constructive [style of] politics.”

He also said that it was not appropriate for the army to be involved.“

In its statement, the PTI called the military spokesperson’s press conference as “illegal”.

It reiterated that PTI founder Imran Khan has consistently condemned the “false flag operation” of May 9 and called for a judicial inquiry into the events.

The PTI also demanded a judicial inquiry into former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s statement. It apparently highlighted the former premier’s statement that fair elections can take place without PTI chief Imran Khan or several party members.

Qaiser throws down the gauntlet

Earlier in the day, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser ruled out any talks, saying that negotiations would be held with those who have mandate.

“There can be no compromise, but rather a struggle within the confines of the law,” he said at a press conference in Peshawar.

Qaiser advised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to seek a legal remedy regarding the acquisition of funds through the Federal Finance Commission.

The PTI leader said that he couldn’t “reveal certain details” in the media, as a “new war” was being initiated. He mentioned that the previous “war of jihad” gifted them Kalashnikovs, followed by losses to the Pashtuns in the war against terrorism. But they do not wish to become fuel for further wars, he said and added that if anyone attempts to impose war, the entire region would rise against it.

He also expressed concern that the Pashtuns were allegedly being forced into poverty and mentioned that after the merger of tribal regions, no funds were received from the federation. Qaiser questioned who was responsible for the situation and demanded to be informed about the parties accountable.

Investments can’t be made at a place lacking rule of law: Ayub

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub has stated that the party informed United States Ambassador Donald Blome in a recent meeting that investments cannot be made at a place that lacks the rule of law and where the supremacy of the Constitution was undermined.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he claimed that the PML-N feared former prime minister Imran Khan and the incumbent government could not last much longer.

He shared that at least 15 members of PTI were killed on May 9 and alleged that security forces firing injured hundreds of people.

He clarified that Sher Afzal Marwat was removed from the PTI’s core committee on ex-PM Imran Khan’s directives and an official notification would be issued regarding this.