Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again launched a scathing attack on the country’s military establishment, this time accusing Army Chief General Asim Munir of orchestrating inhumane treatment against him and his wife, Bushra Bibi. In a blistering post shared through his sister Aleema Khan and on social media, Khan alleged that the conditions he faces in Adiala Jail are harsher than those given to convicted murderers or terrorists. The 72-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader warned that any harm done to him or his wife must be directly attributed to Asim Munir, the man he holds responsible for what he calls a campaign of personal vengeance.
Khan, imprisoned since August 2023 after being sentenced in multiple cases, painted a grim picture of life behind bars. His party, PTI, has raised alarm over his prolonged isolation, lack of access to basic amenities, and targeted cruelty all allegedly engineered by the army leadership. The situation, Khan warned, is no longer just about his imprisonment but a broader campaign to break his political will.
“Even Terrorists Are Treated Better”: Khan Alleges Targeted Abuse
In his detailed statement, Imran Khan said the level of cruelty directed toward him and his wife had reached a new peak. “Even convicted terrorists are not subjected to such abuse,” Khan claimed, highlighting that his wife Bushra Bibi was now denied even the right to watch television in her cell. He alleged that all their basic rights those guaranteed to any prisoner had been suspended without explanation.
Khan made it clear that these actions were not rogue decisions by local jail authorities. Instead, he accused a senior colonel and the jail superintendent of acting under the direct orders of Army Chief Asim Munir. “This is not prison discipline, it’s personal revenge,” Khan charged. According to him, this vendetta stems from an incident during his prime ministerial tenure when Munir, then ISI chief, was removed from his post and later allegedly tried to approach Bushra Bibi through PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari. Her refusal to meet Munir is, Khan says, the reason for the “emotional warfare” now being waged against them.
“Hold Asim Munir Accountable If I’m Harmed”: Khan Warns PTI
Khan’s message to his party was unequivocal: if anything untoward happens to him or his wife in jail, Asim Munir must be held responsible. “There must be accountability for this torture,” he stressed. He declared that he was ready to spend his entire life in jail but would never bow to tyranny or compromise with the military elite.
“The time for negotiations has passed,” Khan wrote, calling for nationwide protests against what he described as the fascist military-political regime controlling Pakistan today. He urged PTI members to bury their personal differences and rally together, stating that the only way to defeat this repression is through unity and relentless resistance.
The former Prime Minister emphasized the importance of digital mobilization too. He directed all PTI workers and leaders to amplify his message across social media, especially by retweeting his statements and videos to “spread the truth” to every corner of the nation.
Solitary Confinement and Psychological Pressure: PTI Raises Alarm
The PTI leadership backed Khan’s claims, further revealing that he was being kept in near-total isolation for 22 hours a day inside Adiala Jail. According to PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram, Khan is confined to what he described as a “death cell.” The party also alleged that Khan has been denied access to newspapers, books, television, and even meetings with close friends or political colleagues.
“Sheer psychological torture is being inflicted on Pakistan’s most popular political leader,” Akram said, warning that Khan’s deteriorating treatment is a national concern. He added that PTI will not tolerate this form of political vendetta disguised as judicial punishment and reiterated that the party holds both Asim Munir and the ruling political elite responsible for any harm caused to its leader.
Khan also did not spare Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz or Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, blaming them for unleashing what he called a “reign of fascism” in Punjab over the past two years. He accused the duo of running a regime of political persecution against PTI supporters and stifling dissent in collusion with the military.
Pakistan at Crossroads Amid Civil-Military Tensions
Imran Khan’s latest outburst from behind bars is more than just a cry of personal anguish; it is a political charge sheet against the most powerful institution in Pakistan – the military. By directly naming Asim Munir and issuing a public threat of accountability, Khan has escalated the civil-military conflict to a dangerous new level. The former Prime Minister’s call for mass protests and his refusal to negotiate signal that Pakistan may be heading toward a period of intensified unrest.
As political repression grows and personal vendettas override constitutional norms, the larger question remains: can Pakistan’s fragile democracy withstand this storm of authoritarianism? Or is the country entering yet another dark chapter where military dominance silences all opposition — one cell at a time?