Islamabad, February 4, 2025: Security sources have denied claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that a letter from incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan was received by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir. Sources privy to the matter stated that the military leadership learned about the alleged letter only through media reports and that no such communication had officially reached the army chief.
A day earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khan’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry told the media that the former premier had written a six-point letter urging the army chief to “reevaluate policy.” Speaking outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Chaudhry claimed that Khan had expressed solidarity with the military in its fight against terrorism while also raising concerns over governance, judicial independence, and economic policies. However, security sources categorically rejected these assertions, clarifying that no such letter had been received by General Munir.
According to PTI, the letter highlighted concerns over fraudulent elections, the alleged promotion of money launderers, and the impact of the 26th Constitutional Amendment on judicial independence. It also criticized the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), describing it as a tool to suppress dissent, and condemned what it called unjust terrorism charges, raids, and repression against PTI workers. Khan also raised concerns about intelligence agencies’ role in political matters and accused the government of weakening the economy through artificial currency control and policies discouraging investment. Faisal Chaudhry claimed that Khan had urged the army chief to reconsider these policies and called for the formation of a judicial commission.
The denial from security sources comes amid heightened political tensions, following PTI’s decision to end negotiations with the PML-N-led government last month. The party had demanded judicial commissions to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 24-27, as well as the release of “all political prisoners,” including Imran Khan. The emergence of the alleged letter also follows recent meetings between PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, with the army chief to discuss the overall security situation.
Barrister Gohar dismissed suggestions of a “policy shift” within PTI, insisting that Imran Khan wrote the letter in his capacity as a former prime minister rather than as a party leader. He reiterated that PTI “does not want chaos” and respects the military as a national institution. Despite these assertions, security sources maintain that no such letter was received by the army chief, casting doubt over PTI’s claims.
