Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has penned a second open letter to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, expressing concerns over his alleged mistreatment in prison, among other grievances.
Earlier, on February 3, Imran had addressed the army chief, highlighting what he described as an increasing divide between the military and the public. In that letter, he urged the army to reassess its approach and provided recommendations to bridge the gap.
However, security officials denied receiving such a letter and dismissed media reports regarding its existence. They asserted that the military had no interest in engaging with the correspondence.
In his latest letter, shared via his official X account, Imran detailed his alleged suffering in prison. “The prison administration has subjected me to severe injustices to exert pressure on me, blatantly violating my basic human rights. I have been confined to a death cell and spent 20 days in complete isolation without exposure to sunlight,” he claimed.
He further alleged that his cell was deprived of electricity for five days, leaving him in darkness. “My exercise equipment and TV were taken away, and I was denied access to newspapers. Authorities even restrict my access to books at will. Beyond the initial 20-day confinement, I was again placed in isolation for 40 hours. In the last six months, I have only spoken to my sons three times,” he added.
Imran maintained that his first letter was written with sincere intentions for the betterment of the country, aiming to mend the widening rift between the people and the military. However, he lamented that his concerns were met with indifference and disregard.
He asserted that, if surveyed, 90 percent of the public would support the points raised in his initial letter.
The former prime minister also criticized recent legal and political developments, voicing concerns about the treatment of his party members and supporters. “All these actions contradict our traditions and have significantly increased public resentment toward the army. If not addressed in time, this could have serious repercussions for both the military and the nation,” he warned, reiterating his stance from the first letter.
Concluding his message, Imran emphasized that the stability and security of Pakistan depend on closing the gap between the army and the public. “The only way to achieve this is for the military to operate within its constitutional limits, disengage from politics, and focus on its designated responsibilities. This transition must come from within the institution itself; otherwise, the growing disconnect may become a critical threat to national security,” he cautioned.
