Khawaja Asif hits back at PTI's Junaid Akbar over 'Somnath' remark ahead of protest

Responding on social media, Asif said Islamabad was neither Somnath nor Junaid Akbar Mahmood of Ghaznavi, referring to Akbar’s statement that the PTI would “turn Islamabad into Somnath” during its planned march. Asif said Islamabad represented the federation and was an important symbol of Pakistan.

He questioned the impact of such statements at a time when bloodshed was continuing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif)September 20, 2026The defence minister also questioned whether the attack mentioned by Akbar for September 27 would involve militants or Afghan nationals living in Pakistan, saying the federal government would defend Islamabad with full force.

Asif further referred to the May 9 and November 26 incidents, saying the statements surrounding the upcoming protest would allow people to form their own view of the PTI leadership’s intentions. A day earlier, Junaid Akbar had warned the government against using force during the PTI’s planned Islamabad march.

Speaking at a gathering in Peshawar, he claimed the party expected he state to open fire on protesters but said its workers would not simply collect bodies and return. He then used the phrase “We will turn Islamabad into Somnath” while addressing the gathering.