Pak Army Spokesperson Slammed for Winking at woman Journalist During Briefing on Imran Khan
Outrage erupts over unprofessional gesture amid escalating military rhetoric against jailed PTI leader
Islamabad, Pakistan – A viral video from a recent Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press briefing has ignited widespread backlash against Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Pakistan’s military media wing. The clip captures Chaudhry winking at female journalist Absa Komal immediately after she questioned him on the army’s escalating accusations against imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Critics have labeled the moment “shameless,” “unprofessional,” and a “new low” for the Pakistan Army, fueling debates on military conduct, sexism, and press freedom in the politically charged atmosphere surrounding Khan’s detention.
The incident unfolded during a briefing last week, where Chaudhry defended the military’s unprecedented public attacks on Khan, whom he described as a “national security threat,” “anti-state element,” “narcissist,” and—adding a fourth point in response to Komal—”a zehni mareez (mental patient).” Komal had pressed: “How is this different from the past, or should we expect any development in the future?” Chaudhry’s smile and wink followed, drawing immediate online fury. Social media users accused him of flirting or disrespecting a professional setting, with comments like: “A DG ISPR answering a woman journalist with a wink? That’s the burial of professionalism. Press conference tha ya sasta flirting?” and “This shows how unprofessional their army is. How can someone in uniform wink like this publicly.”
The controversy coincides with heightened tensions between the military establishment and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Khan, serving a 14-year sentence in Adiala Jail on corruption and state-security charges since August 2023, recently conveyed sharp criticisms of Army Chief General Asim Munir via his sister Uzma Khan, calling him a “mentally unstable person” overseeing the “complete collapse of the Constitution and rule of law.” PTI supporters have amplified the video, linking it to broader allegations of military overreach and suppression of dissent. On Tuesday, Khan’s sisters staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail after being denied a routine visit, citing “illegal isolation” and fears for his safety.
Chaudhry, a three-star general appointed ISPR chief in 2022 by Gen. Munir, has become a prominent and combative face of the army, often lacing briefings with anti-India rhetoric. His father, Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, was a notorious nuclear scientist linked to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, adding layers of scrutiny to his profile. The military has not responded to the backlash, but the video’s spread—shared widely on X and Indian outlets—has amplified calls for accountability.
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