‘Establishment policies widening military-public divide’, says Khan in letter to Pakistan’s army chief

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has written a letter to the country’s army chief General Syed Asim Munir, blaming establishment policies for the growing distance between the army and the people.

The letter, which was shared with the media on Monday by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Faisal Chaudhry outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, addresses key national issues, including civil-military relations, governance, and media freedoms.

Chaudhry said the letter highlights the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers and stresses the need for public support for the army. However, Khan warned that the establishment’s policies have widened the gap between the people and the military.

“Khan has expressed solidarity with the army in its fight against terrorism and emphasized that the nation must stand with its forces,” Chaudhry said. “But he also blames establishment policies for the growing distance between the army and the people.”

Six-point agenda

Khan outlined six key concerns in his letter, calling the February 8 elections the “biggest fraud” in Pakistan’s history. He alleged that the elections enabled money launderers—referring to the leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)—to seize power.

He also claimed that the judiciary’s independence has been compromised since the 26th Constitutional Amendment, citing its impact on the Al-Qadir Trust Case against him.

The letter also criticizes the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) (Amendment) Act, which Khan said has been weaponized to suppress dissent and silence voices on social media. He accused the state of targeting PTI workers and leaders through terrorism charges and mass arrests.

“Khan stated that 100,000 PTI workers’ homes were raided, and political activists faced gunfire,” Chaudhry said.

Khan further claimed that the army is being blamed for threatening journalists, which he warned is harming Pakistan’s international reputation. He urged intelligence agencies to focus on counterterrorism instead of suppressing PTI.

The letter also raises concerns about Pakistan’s struggling economy, alleging that the government has artificially controlled the exchange rate by injecting dollars into the market. He said foreign investors are reluctant to invest due to the lack of rule of law and that growth in the IT sector has stalled due to internet shutdowns.

“This is our country, and we will live and die here,” Khan wrote, adding that he fears for Pakistan’s future if policies remain unchanged.

‘Pressured to apologize’

Khan said he has been pressured to apologize for his political stance but reiterated his demand for a judicial commission to investigate the issues he raised.

“If the army says it doesn’t want chaos in the country, then I don’t want chaos either,” he wrote.

The letter follows recent reports of a meeting between Gen. Munir and PTI leaders, including party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The meeting, initially denied by PTI leadership, later gained attention after Gohar confirmed it and claimed a “positive response” from the army chief.

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Security sources, however, stated that the meeting was focused on counterterrorism issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They alleged that PTI leaders attempted to discuss political matters, but Gen. Munir made it clear that such discussions should be held with politicians, not the military.

“The conversation has been misrepresented and taken out of context,” a security source said. “The meeting primarily addressed security concerns, not political issues.”

This is not the first time Khan has written to the army chief. In May last year, he sent a similar letter raising concerns over political interference and the military’s role in governance.