Fact-check: Contrary to defence minister's claim, PTI has publicly condemned Israel's war in Gaza

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif claimed in a recent television interview that the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has, to date, not condemned Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

This claim is false.

Claim

On October 8, in an interview with a local TV channel, the defence minister criticised former prime minister Imran Khan’s political party for not attending the multi-party conference held by the government a day earlier to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

“To this date, has he [Imran Khan] ever issued a statement against any Zionist? Has there been any official condemnation from PTI regarding Palestine? No, it [PTI] did not [condemn it],” Asif said during the interview.

Fact

Contrary to the defence minister’s statement, the former prime minister and his political party have condemned Israel’s violence in Gaza.

One of the first statements was issued on October 13, 2023, a few days after Israel began bombing Gaza. PTI’s official X (Twitter) account posted pictures of solidarity protests organised by PTI’s women’s wing for Palestinians.

On December 7, 2023, Khan issued another statement on his X (Twitter) account condemning Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, stating: “Israel is brazenly engaged in the genocide of the Palestinian people.”

Additional statements by Khan on X (Twitter) can be viewed here, here and here.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also condemned the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and expressed unity with the Palestinians in a speech in the national assembly on August 2. The statement can be viewed at the 58:58 timestamp.

Barrister Gohar has also posted about the matter on his X account. One such post can be viewed here.

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