Islamabad, February 6, 2025 – Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for planning protests on the same days as the upcoming Champions Trophy matches. He particularly condemned PTI’s call for a long march on February 19, which coincides with Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand. Asif accused the party of undermining the country’s national interests by scheduling protests during critical times for the nation’s international events.
Asif also expressed concerns that PTI’s actions were intentionally disrupting Pakistan’s participation in the Champions Trophy. He labeled the protests as “anti-national” and criticized PTI leader Imran Khan for orchestrating rallies that could negatively affect Pakistan’s image, both domestically and on the global stage. The rally on February 8, coinciding with the team’s preparations, was another point of contention in the Defence Minister’s remarks.
