A video featuring Pakistan’s senior military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has ignited massive controversy across social media platforms. The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) is under fire after being captured on camera making an inappropriate gesture toward a woman journalist during a press conference — an act that many viewers have called “unprofessional” and “deeply disrespectful.”

The viral clip shows journalist Absa Komal questioning Lt Gen Chaudhry about his latest allegations against jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. She asked what was new in branding Khan a “national security threat,” “anti-state actor,” and someone “working at Delhi’s behest,” and whether the military was planning to reveal any new information.

In response, Chaudhry cracked a joke and added, “You can add one more: he is also a jehni mareez (mentally unstable).” Immediately after saying this, he looked at Komal and winked, prompting shock and anger from viewers who interpreted the gesture as inappropriate and dismissive. As of now, the Pakistan Army has not issued any formal statement addressing the incident.

Clip Widely Shared, Netizens Question Professionalism

The video spread rapidly across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, drawing sharp criticism from journalists, activists, and the general public. Many users argued that such behavior was unbecoming of a high-ranking military official during a formal media briefing.

One user wrote on X, “He is not behaving like a professional soldier.”
Another commented, “This shows how unprofessional their army really is. How can someone in uniform wink at a journalist on a public platform?”
A third user remarked, “And this man is a Pakistani Army General… no wonder the country is in such a mess.”

The outrage reflects a broader sentiment in Pakistan, where the army’s conduct and political influence have long been topics of public debate. The viral clip has now intensified that scrutiny.

General Chaudhry’s Controversial Track Record

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has been one of the most visible faces of the Pakistani military in recent months. Known for delivering sharply worded, India-focused statements and aggressive briefings, he has often found himself in the middle of controversies.

His family background has also drawn attention. Chaudhry is the son of Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, an individual previously designated as a terrorist and widely reported to have been close to Osama bin Laden. This personal history resurfaces online every time the General faces criticism, as it did once again following the viral video.

Earlier this year in May, Chaudhry was also embroiled in a dispute surrounding brief cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. His remarks during that period were widely criticized for being inflammatory.

Escalating War of Words on Imran Khan

This latest controversy erupted amid Chaudhry’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric targeting former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remains behind bars. In recent weeks, Chaudhry has called Khan a “narcissist”, “mentally ill”, and someone who is “crafting a narrative that threatens Pakistan’s national security.”

He also accused the former PM of spreading misinformation against the armed forces, citing Khan’s recent post on X, which he labeled a “deliberate attempt to build a false narrative” against Pakistan’s institutions.

These comments are part of a broader power struggle between the Pakistani Army and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, which has intensified since Khan’s arrest.

Public Reaction Highlights Deepening Distrust

The backlash to the winking incident reflects growing public discontent with Pakistan’s military leadership. For many citizens, the video confirmed long-standing concerns regarding the army’s political involvement and perceived lack of accountability.

Human rights groups and media organizations in Pakistan have also called on the ISPR to clarify the incident and uphold professional conduct within official engagements.

For now, the Pakistan Army remains silent — but the viral video continues to intensify political tensions and fuel the debate about the military’s role, behavior, and public image.