From his prison cell, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been vocal about his escalating criticism of Pakistan army chief Asim Munir’s power grab, according to multiple sources close to Khan. The allegations made by Khan suggest a breach of an agreement between him and Munir, in which Munir was supposed to remain neutral in politics in exchange for Khan accepting his appointment as army chief. Khan also accuses Munir of conspiring with his political rivals, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to cooperate against him and drop corruption charges that had forced Sharif into exile.
The personal conflict between Khan and Munir is a significant factor in the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan. Khan alleges that Munir ordered Pakistan’s intelligence service to assassinate him and covered up assassination attempts by suppressing a police investigation and burying CCTV footage.
Munir’s consolidation of political power and the brutal crackdown on rival political parties, activists, and the press in Pakistan have drawn strong condemnations from American officials. The military’s detention of family members of pro-democracy activists living in the U.S. and Canada has raised concerns about transnational repression. Rep. Ro Khanna has called for sanctions on Pakistani military leaders, including Munir, who target Americans.
Khan’s allegations about Munir include claims of assassination attempts and a cover-up of a shooting attack at a political rally. Khan accuses Munir of blocking an independent probe into the attack and suppressing eyewitness accounts that pointed to the involvement of multiple assailants.
The political clash between Khan and Munir has left Pakistan in a state of crisis. Khan claims that Munir made deals with his political rivals to spare them from corruption charges in exchange for supporting the crackdown on Khan and his party. Despite the crackdown, Khan’s popularity remains strong, as evidenced by the sweeping support received by PTI-affiliated candidates in the rigged elections.
Pakistan continues to face economic and political crises, with the military attempting to suppress speech and control the internet. Khan’s safety is a concern for his supporters, who have lobbied for intervention from U.S. politicians to ensure his well-being.
In addition to accusing Munir of betrayal and attempted murder, Khan has raised concerns about the country heading towards a repeat of the traumatic 1971 partition, which led to the secession of Bangladesh. Khan’s allegations and the ongoing political standoff between PTI and the military have created a volatile situation in Pakistan.
Correction: The earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Imran Khan was prime minister at the time of Asim Munir’s ascension. The story has been updated to reflect that Arif Alvi was president at that time.
