Imran Khan concluded his letter by calling for a return to democratic principles and urging the military leadership to acknowledge the public’s sentiments rather than suppress dissent.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a second open letter to Army Chief General Asim Munir, continuing his efforts to address the deepening divide between the military and the public. The letter, posted on Khan’s official Twitter account, follows an earlier communication that he claims was met with indifference and “irresponsibility”.

“I wrote the first open letter to you with the intention of improving the country’s situation, but the response was given with extreme irresponsibility and lack of seriousness,” Khan wrote.

As the leader of Pakistan’s most popular political party, Khan emphasised his lifelong dedication to serving the nation. “I have dedicated 55 years of my life to public service, and my entire existence revolves around Pakistan,” he stated.

Khan expressed grave concerns over the widening rift between the military and the public, warning of potentially dangerous consequences. He asserted that if the people were consulted on the six issues he raised in his first letter, 90 per cent would support his stance.

Return to Democratic Principles

In his letter, Khan also pointed to a series of troubling events, including the alleged abduction and torture of Adiala Jail Superintendent Akram, who was known for upholding the law. Khan claimed that he, too, has faced mistreatment in custody, including being confined in a “death trap” for 20 days without sunlight. He further alleged that his prison cell had been deprived of electricity for five days, plunging him into total darkness. Additionally, his exercise equipment, television, and newspapers were taken away, and he was denied access to books.

Khan also raised concerns about being prevented from speaking with his children, stating that he had only been allowed three conversations with them in the past six months, despite court orders affirming his right to do so. He further criticised restrictions on visitation, lamenting that many of his supporters, who travelled long distances to meet him, had been denied access in violation of legal directives.

In his letter, Khan accused the government of manipulating the judicial system through coercion. He alleged that the 26th Constitutional Amendment was being pushed at gunpoint to tighten control over the judiciary, allowing the appointment of judges favourable to the government. He also accused authorities of pressuring judges to rule against him, claiming that one judge’s blood pressure spiked five times due to the stress, leading to hospitalisation.

Khan concluded his letter by calling for a return to democratic principles and urging the military leadership to acknowledge the public’s sentiments rather than suppress dissent.

Anniversary of Disputed Elections

As political tensions escalate, opposition parties, including Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), took to the streets on February 8 to mark the first anniversary of the country’s general elections, which they claim were rigged. The demonstrations were part of a coordinated effort to demand new elections and protest the alleged manipulation of the electoral process.

Thousands of PTI supporters gathered in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling for Khan’s release and fair elections. Opposition figures argue that the military orchestrated vote-rigging to ensure a victory for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partner, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). These allegations have been denied by the government, the military, and the Pakistani Election Commission.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has dismissed requests to nullify the election results. However, concerns over the vote’s legitimacy have been raised by the United States, Britain, and the European Union, who have urged an independent investigation into the allegations.

Joining PTI in the February 8 demonstrations were other opposition parties, including the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and the Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H). Addressing his supporters via video message, PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur reiterated claims of widespread electoral fraud and called for immediate corrective measures.

Arrests and Persecution

In response to the protests, authorities in Islamabad, Balochistan, and Punjab imposed restrictions on public gatherings, citing security concerns. Despite these measures, PTI supporters continued their demonstrations, with caravans of protestors traveling to Swabi in defiance of the restrictions.

Over the past two years, numerous PTI leaders and activists have faced arrests and persecution for protesting Khan’s imprisonment and the alleged interference of the military in the political process.

Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison last month on fresh corruption charges, a verdict he dismissed as politically motivated. His wife was also convicted and handed a seven-year sentence. The former cricket superstar-turned-politician, now 72, has been in jail since August 2023.

With mounting pressure from opposition parties and increasing scrutiny from the international community, the political crisis in Pakistan shows no signs of easing. As Khan continues to challenge the military’s role in governance, and his supporters rally for change, the country’s political landscape remains deeply fractured.

“Extreme violence was unleashed on our unarmed pro-democracy supporters on May 9th (2023) and November 26th (2024),” Khan said in his letter. “Peaceful civilians were directly shot at. Over the past three years, state security agencies have raided the homes of hundreds of thousands of our supporters, arrested over 20,000 of them, abducted and tortured many, and detained thousands on baseless charges for months.”