Reading Imran Khan's Letters to the Army Chief. Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, clarified in an informal conversation with journalists that he has not received any letters written by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail. It is worth noting that three open letters addressed to the Army Chief have been published so far on Imran Khan’s ‘X’ account. In these letters, he has urged the establishment to change its policies, claiming that the current stance has significantly increased public resentment against the military. This situation has led to growing public interest in reading Imran Khan's letters to the Army Chief, as these letters highlight critical political and legal issues. The lengthy letters written from jail to the Chief of the Pakistan Army discuss various matters, including alleged electoral rigging, the treatment of Imran Khan in prison, and the state of human rights. Many people are eager to read Imran Khan's letters to the Army Chief to better understand his perspective on these pressing concerns. On Thursday, during an informal conversation with journalists at a luncheon hosted in honor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Islamabad, General Asim Munir was asked about these letters. According to PML-N parliamentary leader and senator Irfan Siddiqui, as well as journalist  the Army Chief responded, saying, "I have not received any letter from anyone, and even if I do, I will forward it to the Prime Minister." He further stated, "Pakistan is moving forward, progress is being made, and the country must continue in this direction." Imran Khan’s lawyers and PTI leaders claim that three open letters were written by Imran Khan to the Army Chief on February 3, February 8, and February 13. Many political analysts believe that reading Imran Khan's letters to the Army Chief could provide deeper insights into his grievances and his stance against the current establishment. According to details shared on social media, Imran Khan alleged that "I am being kept in extreme solitary confinement" and that "all my legal cases are being decided under pressure." On the other hand, government officials have repeatedly denied these allegations made by Imran Khan.

What did Army Chief General Asim Munir say?

Journalist Asma Shirazi was present at the luncheon yesterday, where the Army Chief had an informal conversation with journalists. Asma Shirazi told an international broadcasting organization, "I asked the Army Chief whether he has been receiving many letters lately, and what his response to them is?" According to her, the Army Chief responded, "The letters being sent are not reaching me. Even if I receive them, I will not read them. These letters are just media optics; they serve no real purpose. They are written merely to gain attention. If any letters have been written, I do not read them." Asma Shirazi further stated that, in response to another journalist’s question, the Army Chief said, "If I receive a letter, I will not read it but will forward it to the Prime Minister without reading it." PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui was also present at the luncheon, and according to him, he witnessed the Army Chief’s conversation with journalists. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Senator Irfan Siddiqui stated that during the meal, the Army Chief and several senior journalists were present. He mentioned, "The Chief was asked whether he had received any letters. He replied that he had not received any. This conversation happened in front of me. Then he was asked what he would do if he received one."

"To this, he responded that if he received a letter, he would send it to the Prime Minister."

What is an open letter and what does Army Chief's reply mean for PTI?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an open letter is meant to be read by as many people as possible, not just the intended recipient. Perhaps that is why, after the Army Chief’s remarks surfaced in the media, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sarcastically posted on their X account, stating, "This is an 'open letter,' so there is no need to wait for the postman!" PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar, while speaking to reporters outside Parliament about Imran Khan’s letters, explained that in open letters, "You highlight issues, offer advice, and hope it will be acted upon, but that does not mean you expect a response. (Imran Khan has) written a third (letter) to the Army Chief, and he might even write a fourth one." Speaking to an international news outlet, journalist and analyst Hamid Mir stated that the Army Chief’s response to Imran Khan’s letters is "unbelievable" for an ordinary Pakistani. He elaborated that since Imran Khan did not send these letters through a post office but instead shared them on social media, it is understandable that General Asim Munir claims he did not receive them. However, according to Hamid Mir, the Army Chief’s assertion that he has not read the letters is "hard to believe." Journalist Asma Shirazi, sharing her opinion on the matter, said that the Army Chief’s statement sends a clear message that he "will not engage in any discussions with political leaders that fall outside his jurisdiction." She noted that the Army Chief’s remarks about "gimmicks" and "media optics" suggest that "he understands the nature and intent behind Imran Khan’s public communication." Meanwhile, journalist and analyst Muneeb Farooq, speaking on a private TV show, commented that "Pakistan’s establishment has had a set policy for the past two and a half years. Since December 2022, they have been following this approach, and Imran Khan is no longer part of their considerations." "Pakistan’s current establishment did not want to engage with Imran Khan before, nor do they wish to do so now. The existing bitterness is only increasing, and there are no signs of improvement." Senator Irfan Siddiqui, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, remarked, "The issue is that the person Imran Khan is writing to does not want to read or respond to his letters. This is a futile exercise." On the other hand, speaking to reporters in Parliament, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) leader Senator Kamran Murtaza said, "In principle, I am against writing letters to the Army Chief. On one hand, you claim to be struggling against the establishment, and on the other, you are writing letters to them. In my view, writing such letters is inappropriate. If you want to write a letter, address it to Shehbaz Sharif."

Imran Khan is putting pressure on the system

Analyst Habib Akram, in a conversation with an international news outlet, stated that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, are strategically putting pressure on the system. He noted that the Army Chief’s message to the former Prime Minister seemed clear through his actions. He stated, "Imran Khan’s first letter seemed insignificant, and it was responded to through sources. However, the Army Chief himself has now spoken about the second and third letters." According to him, it appears that "Imran Khan’s efforts are working for PTI. If there is any reaction or response, it can be perceived as a success." Habib Akram further mentioned that, on one hand, the Pakistan Army has repeatedly stated that they will not negotiate with PTI, while on the other hand, a meeting between the Army Chief and the former Prime Minister’s representative, Barrister Gohar, took place in Peshawar. "Now, it is no longer the case that talks will not happen because when PTI sat with the government, the military also engaged with PTI."