Talal Chaudhry on Noreen Niazi’s remarks

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Sunday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, of promoting an anti-state narrative. 

“It makes no difference whether the person is a man or a woman. The law will take its course, and there will be no leniency for anyone found undermining Pakistan’s stability,” he said a day after legal proceedings were initiated over her recent remarks.

The address comes a day after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) summoned Noreen for an inquiry after she gave an interview, alleging that Operation Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

Speaking to the media in recorded addresses, both Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Talal said Noreen’s comments were not an isolated incident but reflected “a broader pattern” by Imran’s family.

“Noreen’s statement is extremely regrettable and condemnable,” Tariq said. “There is hardly an occasion that Imran and his entire family let pass without making statements against Pakistan or promoting narratives against the state.”

Drawing a contrast with Pakistan’s military confrontation with India last year, he said the country’s performance had been acknowledged both at home and abroad.

“The victory in Marka-e-Haq was historic. Not only Pakistanis, but people around the world, international media, and military experts recognised Pakistan’s clear superiority over India,” he said.

“US President Donald Trump referred on several occasions to the Indian aircraft Pakistan brought down. Pakistan even made the tail numbers of those aircraft public, yet India never once denied that its aircraft had been shot down.”

He also referred to cyberattacks on India and strikes on Indian military positions, saying they had become “part of history”.

“The success of Marka-e-Haq and Bunyan-un-Marsoos left the world astonished. Even today, it remains a case study of how Pakistan defeated India.”

Turning back to Noreen’s remarks, Tariq said they were incompatible with Pakistan’s national interest. “To say that Narendra Modi could ‘fix’ Pakistan is deeply shameful. No matter how much it is condemned, it remains a disgraceful statement. It goes against Pakistan’s integrity, dignity, and honour.”

The minister said that our armed forces are not only the symbol of our security and national pride, but also continue to make immense sacrifices for the defence of the country.

Read: NCCIA summons Imran’s sister Noreen Niazi for controversial remarks on Marka-e-Haq

“Statements that undermine Pakistan’s dignity and national interest are rejected by the entire nation,” he added.

Talal echoed those remarks, arguing that Noreen’s comments were consistent with what he alleged had long been Imran Khan’s political approach.

“This is not the first time the PTI founder’s sister has made such remarks. For a long time, the entire family has demonstrated through its politics that its objective is to harm Pakistan,” he said.

“After hearing this interview, is there really any room left to doubt what many people have long alleged?”

He then accused Imran of having foreign backing, linking his allegations to the party’s foreign funding case and extending them to his personal life.

“Whether it is the foreign funding case, his marriage, or even the upbringing of his children, people should ask who has been backing them,” Talal said.

He alleged that Imran’s children had been raised “in the homes of families closely linked to Israel” and claimed that the party’s politics, funding, and public narrative reflected the influence of what he described as its foreign patrons.

“These are the proxies whose real owners protect them, raise their children, provide them with resources, wealth, and lobbying,” he alleged.

Talal also accused Imran of repeatedly targeting Pakistan’s institutions, particularly the armed forces.

“Whenever there was even the smallest issue involving Pakistan’s Army, there would immediately be tweets and statements. But when it comes to Israel, they remain silent,” he alleged.

He further said that PTI had campaigned internationally against Pakistan’s economic interests. “They wrote to the IMF, protested outside its headquarters, and wished for Pakistan to default. They urged overseas Pakistanis not to send remittances so the country would face economic collapse.”

He also alleged that the party had lobbied for trade and travel restrictions on Pakistan. “Whenever Pakistan’s economy can be targeted, they are there. Whenever Pakistan’s stability can be weakened, they are there.”

The minister went on to allege that opinion pieces favourable to the PTI founder had appeared in Israeli newspapers and other international publications written by people “close to Israel”, which he claimed reflected lobbying carried out on the party’s behalf.

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“Their target is not just the Army. Their target is not just Pakistan’s institutions. Their target is Pakistan itself,” he alleged.

Rejecting any suggestion that Noreen’s comments had been inadvertent, Talal said, “This was not a slip of the tongue. It was a deliberate statement, made after thought and consideration.”

He said the government had already begun legal proceedings against Noreen and that she would be given a full opportunity to explain why she made these remarks.

He said that “their target is Pakistan itself,” a day after legal proceedings were initiated over her recent remarks.

According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Noreen has been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the inquiry.

The notice, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stated that the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter.

The notice directed her to appear in person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. It warned that non-compliance would mean “that you have nothing to present or state in your defence” and would be punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.

The notice was issued after Noreen made remarks regarding Marka-e-Haq and the Pakistan Army during an interview on a YouTube channel.

In the interview, Noreen alleged that Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She further claimed that India refrained from attacking Pakistan at Israel’s request because Pakistan was moving towards recognising Israel.

“Modi could have fixed them in two minutes if he had wanted to. Why did Modi stop? What was he afraid of? India is such a large country. Look at that country and then look at yourselves,” she said.

She also alleged that Israel was “behind” the developments and claimed that Pakistan was being prepared to join countries that had established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

The comments were criticised by politicians and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.