Published: 06:43 PM, 22 July 2025 Last Update: 06:47 PM, 22 July 2025
Tug of war between Khan and Munir intensifies – May hurt governance and economy
The ongoing rift between Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has continued to widen over the years, which may hurt the country’s governance and economy. Munir has ensured Khan remains in jail. Khan has been consistent in accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism. The tug of war has become severe as Munir strengthened his hold on power while Khan continued to draw huge support from Pakistani people living in and outside the country.
Khan has now planned mass protests to “bring the Pakistani nation out of this swamp of lawlessness” over judicial surrender to the military. “Now there will be no negotiations of any kind with anyone! There will be protests only on the streets so that the nation can get rid of the puppet rulers imposed by force,” he said. Khan has been in prison since 2023, yet he has managed to mobilise his supporters in and outside Pakistan against the military.
Khan blamed the establishment, commonly referred to as the military in Pakistan, for harassing him and his family. “I am enduring a confinement where I am kept in a 6×8 cell for 22 hours a day. My wife is also kept in solitary confinement under the worst conditions,” he said. “Behind all this is the establishment and its cronies. All this is done to break me. But I will stand against oppression until my last breath.”
In 2024, Khan had warned of civil disobedience after the protests led by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were crushed. Khan has had only two options to secure his political future—either hit the streets or deal with the military. However, the hostile relations between Khan and Munir since the latter was unceremoniously removed from the post of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief have left no room for negotiation, said Islamabad-based political analyst Cyril Almeida.
“Street protests complement negotiations, raising the cost on the government and military for keeping him in jail. But the problem remains the same, the current Army Chief Asim Munir is implacably, perhaps irrevocably, opposed to Imran Khan being a major governing figure again,” Almeida said. “So long as Munir is around and in control of his military, Khan’s chances of a negotiated settlement are dim.”
Munir had dismissed receiving any letter from Khan in February 2025, signalling no scope for rapprochement or negotiation. “I haven’t received any letter from anyone. Even if I do, I won’t read it,” he said. Later, the Army spokesperson said “All political parties and leaders are respectable to us. No individual, his politics and his desire for power are above Pakistan.”
Khan said his earlier letters to Munir received a response with “extreme irresponsibility and lack of seriousness”. Later, taking a jibe at Munir’s elevation as Field Marshal, Khan said “Though frankly, it might have been more fitting to give him the title of ‘King’ instead — because right now, the country is ruled by the law of the jungle. The ongoing situation reflects that the very spirit of democracy is being crushed.”
Khan blamed the Munir-led Army for overstepping judicial powers and interfering in the political governance. He said bridging the growing gap between people and the military is required for stability and national security. “The only way to achieve this is for the military to return to its constitutional role, withdraw from politics, and fulfill its defined responsibilities,” he said in the letter to Munir.
Even Khan refuted the claims of any deal with the military over his release from prison, saying he would never bow to tyranny or accept injustice. “I would rather spend my entire life behind bars than kneel before oppression and authoritarianism,” he said. “No deal has taken place, nor is any dialogue underway. These are baseless lies.”
The interpersonal friction between Khan and Munir was getting nastier and deeper, which could be dangerous for Pakistan, said Ayesha Siddiqa, a political scientist at King’s College, London. “Khan has remained intransigent, refusing to negotiate with his rivals in the military and political establishment,” she said. “Unless Pakistan’s generals can patch the rift over Mr. Khan, the country’s political stability, its security and its future will be difficult to predict.”
Former Pakistani Army official Adil Raja said Munir’s political ambitions not only kept Khan imprisoned but also hurt the country’s economy and democracy. “Munir’s refusal to grant political space to Imran Khan without securing immunity for himself underscores his prioritisation of self-preservation over national interest,” he said. “Pakistan’s current trajectory under Asim Munir’s leadership is unsustainable. To restore trust in its institutions, the military must return to being an apolitical and professional organisation.” (by Paul Antonopoulos)
>> Source: Greek City Times
