Former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan appeared as a special guest in an X Space hosted by commentator Adil Raja, where he openly praised Imran Khan.
Militant endorsement raises grave concerns
To begin with, Ehsanullah Ehsan used the live session to voice support for Imran Khan while participants posed questions critical of state institutions.
He framed Imran Khan as a heroic figure and positioned his own views within Pakistan’s political debate.
Consequently, the appearance triggered an immediate backlash from survivors’ families of APS attack, journalists, and civil society groups who argued that amplifying a militant voice further normalises extremism.
In addition, critics warned that giving a platform to a figure tied to mass casualty terrorism risks traumatising victims and distorting the public conversation.
Ehsanullah Ehsan’s record defines the alarm
Next, Ehsanullah Ehsan is known primarily as the former spokesperson for Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan and later Jamaat ul Ahrar.
He publicly claimed multiple terrorists attacks including the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar that killed one hundred thirty two children, and the shooting of Malala Yousafzai.
Therefore, his public endorsement of a major political figure is not a routine political comment but a stark reminder of a campaign of terror that devastated families across Pakistan.
Adil Raja’s platform amplifies extremist narratives
Finally, the Space was convened and moderated by Adil Raja, a former army major turned political commentator with a sizeable digital following.
He is widely known for his notorious political commentary which targets state institutions to peruse his own agenda of gaining social media following.
As a result, the session reached a broad listenership and conferred visibility that fringe militant channels do not achieve on their own.
Rights advocates urge clear red lines in political communication and responsible platform governance whenever speech intersects with extremist propaganda.
