Rawalpindi, February 8, 2025: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a second open letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, accusing the military leadership of political victimization and warning of a deepening divide between the armed forces and the public.
In his letter, Khan reiterated that PTI, Pakistan’s largest political party, was being systematically targeted. He claimed that his previous attempt to engage the military for the country’s betterment was met with an “irresponsible and unserious response.”
Khan, who asserts himself as the leader of Pakistan’s most popular political movement, emphasized his lifelong efforts to bring global recognition to the country. He cautioned that the growing rift between the people and the military posed a serious threat to national stability. According to him, had the public been consulted, 90% would have endorsed the six key points he outlined in his previous letter to the army chief.
The PTI founder accused the current government of coming to power through pre-poll rigging and using constitutional amendments and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to suppress judicial independence and political dissent. He blamed these actions for escalating political instability and further weakening Pakistan’s economy.
Khan also detailed the conditions of his imprisonment, alleging that he endured 20 days of solitary confinement, was deprived of sunlight, and denied access to exercise, television, and newspapers. He further claimed he had been allowed to speak to his sons only three times in six months, while his wife and many PTI leaders repeatedly faced restrictions on visitation rights despite court orders.
Additionally, he accused authorities of deliberately delaying bail hearings for over 2,000 PTI workers and leaders, calling it an orchestrated campaign of political persecution.
Khan also criticized the tightening of digital censorship, warning that the use of PECA to curb free speech on social media could jeopardize Pakistan’s GSP+ trade status with the European Union.
His latest letter follows an earlier appeal to the army chief, in which he urged a policy shift and called for the establishment of a judicial commission to address grievances.