Senior journalist Sohail Warraich has said that every state rests on a few fundamental pillars, stressing that without the existence of the state and its armed forces, democracy cannot function, political parties cannot survive, and politics itself becomes impossible.
Speaking on a private television program, Warraich said that in all wars Pakistan has fought, the entire opposition has historically stood with the state. He added that terrorism, in essence, is also a form of war, and should be treated as such.
He said he finds it difficult to understand why Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has adopted a rigid position on the issue, particularly when, to his knowledge, the party itself has suffered the most from terrorism—especially terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. He noted that PTI has faced severe challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and whether it was Murad Saeed from Swat or other leaders, the issue of terrorism was repeatedly raised forcefully in cabinet meetings.
Warraich said that since this position now appears to suit PTI politically, the party has chosen to adopt a different narrative.
The senior journalist revealed that he had also discussed the matter openly with Imran Khan, during which the former prime minister himself had agreed that Taliban terrorism must be confronted collectively.
He stressed that the basic points on which national consensus had been achieved should not be abandoned. According to Warraich, all national and political parties had jointly decided that whenever terrorism of this nature emerged, they would stand together, and whenever the state took action against it, they would support that action.
He warned that PTI is making its own path more difficult by persisting with this stance. He said that the party’s continued refusal to acknowledge and address what he described as the grave mistake of May 9 has already become a major burden for it, and that such conduct does not reflect political wisdom.
Warraich said that if PTI were to apply reason, understanding, and lessons from past experience, it might still find a better course forward. He added that the party is already facing a serious crisis and worsening it further is not in its interest. Instead, PTI should focus on reducing the crisis.
He emphasized that PTI itself had signed the state narrative it now appears to be questioning—a narrative discussed in meetings and under which security operations continued even during PTI’s own tenure in government. He said there is no clear justification for departing from that position now.
The senior journalist said PTI should reconsider its stance, because the state will inevitably act. He stressed that it is not possible for terrorist attacks to continue indefinitely while the state remains passive.
Concluding his remarks, Warraich said the process will continue, and eventually PTI will have no choice but either to step back from its current position or revise its policy accordingly.
