Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan wanted the military to become a subordinate institution of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Friday.

“The PTI founder referred to the army chief as the ‘father of the nation’,” Asif said in a video statement which was broadcast on national television channels.

Asif has been wary of Khan’s PTI. He was also sceptical about Khan’s party’s decision to sit with the government for talks. The negotiation ended abruptly as the opposition did not attend the fourth round of talks, saying that the government did not fulfil demands.

Last year, the defence minister stated that the person responsible for the May 9 riots “was a product” of the establishment. His statements came a day after the military’s media wing announced that at least 25 suspects have been sentenced to jail terms.

He also labelled Khan as a “proxy” for pro-Israel supporters following claims about the international conspiracy behind the PTI founder’s case.

The defence minister mentioned that Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir was on an “important visit” to the United Kingdom, highlighting the “crucial diplomatic, military, and economic relations” between the two countries. He added that the ties between Pakistan and the UK are “exemplary” across various sectors.

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Asif added that in a certain period, PTI members referred to the army chief as a “father” while the PTI founder labelled him as the “father of the nation.” He criticised the same individuals who once praised the army chief, now “speaking ill” of him.

The defence minister pointed out that the PTI founder had aimed to appoint former spymaster Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed as army chief, indicating an “intention to turn the military into a subsidiary of his party.”

He claimed that events on May 9 and November 26 were orchestrated for “nefarious purposes.” Asif added that the attacks on national properties and the desecration of memorials for martyrs were “real incidents and PTI’s politics are solely for personal gain, with no concern for the country.”