Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has written an open letter to Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, urging the military establishment to reassess its policies to bridge the growing divide between the public and the armed forces.
The letter was shared on Imran Khan’s official X account late Monday night, with party leaders affirming that all posts from this account are made under his direct instructions from Adiala Jail, where he is currently imprisoned.
In the letter, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman stressed that national unity is crucial for success in the fight against terrorism, but lamented that the military’s policies have increasingly alienated the public.
Addressing the Army Chief as a former Prime Minister, he stated, "It is my responsibility to highlight the issues that are damaging the reputation of the armed forces." He added that national security and stability depend on reducing the widening gap between the people and the military.
Khan proposed that the only way to restore trust is for the army to "return to its constitutional limits, detach itself from politics, and focus on its assigned duties." He warned that failure to do so would lead to fault lines in national security.
The letter also accused intelligence agencies of pre-poll rigging and political engineering in the February 2024 general elections, claiming this has deeply eroded public confidence. Notably, Pakistan’s military has repeatedly denied allegations of interference in politics, while both the army and the current government have dismissed PTI’s accusations.
In addition to electoral interference, Imran Khan’s letter referenced the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), a crackdown on PTI leaders and workers, economic instability, and alleged political victimization. He further claimed that military officers at the major and colonel levels were disregarding judicial rulings, thereby undermining the institution’s credibility.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s political advisor, Rana Sanaullah, criticized Imran Khan’s letter, stating that if Khan wants to pursue political struggle, he should do so in Parliament. Speaking on Geo News' talk show, Sanaullah accused Khan of trying to "create divisions between the army and the public, sow misunderstandings within the military leadership, and weaken the armed forces."
He further questioned whether a weakened military would allow PTI to retain power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or if "those sitting across the border" would take control instead.
Sanaullah also defended the 26th Amendment and rejected PTI’s allegations of judicial interference.
Last month, PTI leader Barrister Gohar confirmed that he met the Army Chief on Khan’s instructions. This revelation came just a week after PTI announced it was withdrawing from negotiations with the government.
