Army must stick to the brief: Imran

Jailed former Pakistan premier Imran Khan on Sunday penned an open letter to Army chief Gen Asim Munir in which he criticised the military’s unlawful actions and its engagement in politics and urged it “to return to its constitutional limits”.

In the letter posted on X, the Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder alleged mistreatment in prison, including placing him in solitary confinement in a death-row cell for 20 days with no access to sunlight or electricity.

Khan has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi for over a year.

This follows his first letter on February 3, which urged the military to review its approach towards national security and governance.

After the first letter, security sources said it had not been received by the military and dismissed reports in the media about its existence. They claimed that the establishment was not interested in receiving such a letter.

In his latest letter, Khan said the response to “my (first) letter was dismissive and irresponsible”, adding that his concern “is purely for the reputation of our arm­ed forces and the dangerous consequences of the widening gulf between the military and the public. This is why I wrote this letter”.

He highlighted six points that have deepened the rift between the people and the military. These points included the manipulation of election results through pre-poll rigging orchestrated by intelligence agencies, the forced passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in Parliament at gunpoint to take control of the judiciary and appoint handpicked judges and the imposition of draconian legislation like the amendments to PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act) to silence dissent.

Khan noted that political instability and the “might is right” policy plunged the country’s economy into chaos. Khan regretted that the country’s “largest political party” was being targeted and all state institutions were being used for political engineering and revenge.

He mentioned that if a public referendum were held on the six points he highlighted, “I believe that 90 per cent of Pakistanis would support them”.

He said these alleged actions were not only harming public sentiment but also worsening the rift between the people and the army.

Ex-PM’s party rules out talks with Sharif govt

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, has ruled out the possibility of resumption of the dialogue between the party and the government, a news report said on Sunday.

“The chapter of talks is now closed,” Geo News quoted Ayub as saying on Saturday. Ayub said political negotiations were not based on mere wishes but required firm commitment which the government failed to demonstrate.

“The other side didn’t display goodwill,” he added.