In an "open letter" addressed to Army Chief General Asim Munir, former Prime Minister Imran Khan demanded that the establishment reconsider its policies to bridge the growing divide between the public and the army and prevent the military’s defamation. On Monday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar told journalists outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail that Imran Khan had written a letter to the Army Chief. The details of this letter were later shared on Imran Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) account. According to PTI leaders, messages posted on this account are issued under the directives of the incarcerated former prime minister. In the letter, Imran Khan stated that “success in the war against terrorism requires the nation to stand behind the army, but it is unfortunate that due to the establishment’s policies, the gap between the military and the public is widening with each passing day.” Addressing the Army Chief as a former prime minister, he wrote, “I have to highlight the issues that are leading to the army’s continued defamation.” "For the stability and security of the country, it is crucial to reduce the divide between the army and the people." He further stated, “There is only one way to bridge this growing gap: the army must return to its constitutional boundaries, disengage from politics, and fulfill its designated responsibilities. The military must take this step, or this widening gap will become fault lines in national security.”
The details of the letter shared on social media include allegations that during the February 2024 general elections, “the way agencies were involved in pre-poll rigging and political engineering to control the results has severely damaged the nation’s trust.” It is important to note that the Pakistani military has repeatedly stated that it does not interfere in national politics. The army and the current government have repeatedly denied PTI’s allegations. Meanwhile, in his letter, Imran Khan also mentioned the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the PECA law, the crackdown on PTI leaders and workers, economic instability, and political retaliation. He claimed that “officers at the major and colonel levels continue to disregard court orders. Judicial decisions are being treated with contempt, which is tarnishing the reputation of the entire military.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s political advisor, Rana Sanaullah, has criticized Imran Khan’s letter to the Army Chief, stating that if Imran Khan wants to engage in political struggle, he should do so in Parliament. He accused the letter of being an attempt to “create divisions between the army and the public, sow misunderstandings between the military and its leadership, and weaken the armed forces.” He questioned, “If the army is weakened, will PTI’s government remain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or will those in power be the ones sitting across the border?” Rana Sanaullah further suggested that the PTI founder “may deliberately want to push Pakistan into such a crisis.” He also defended the 26th Constitutional Amendment and rejected Imran Khan’s allegations regarding judicial interference. Last month, Barrister Gohar confirmed that he met with Pakistan’s Army Chief on Imran Khan’s instructions. It is worth noting that a week ago, PTI announced the termination of negotiations with the government.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar has stated that Imran Khan’s letter to the Army Chief does not indicate a policy shift for the party. Speaking to the media, he clarified that Imran Khan wrote the letter in his capacity as a former prime minister. "In the letter, Imran Khan has outlined the reasons behind the growing divide between the army and the public," he said. He further stated, "Imran Khan emphasized that the gap between the military and the people should not widen. The PTI founder has requested the Army Chief to reconsider certain policies."
Barrister Gohar also mentioned that the letter would be shared with the media today. He added, "Imran Khan disclosed the details of the letter to nine journalists inside the courtroom. The Pakistan Armed Forces have made immense sacrifices. "According to Barrister Gohar, Imran Khan pointed out that "fraudulent elections and the 26th Constitutional Amendment are key factors behind the growing divide between the army and the public." "Imran Khan has said that all blame is being placed on the military. We do not want chaos—the army is ours." It is worth noting that on Friday, Imran Khan also wrote a letter of more than 300 pages to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
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