Imran Khan’s call from jail: Hold Asim Munir liable if anything happens to me

Complaining of “harsh treatment” in jail, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has appealed to his party members to hold Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir accountable if anything happens to him.

In a lengthy post on X, Khan, who has been languishing in Adiala jail for the past two years along with his wife Bushra Bibi, said they were being deprived of basic human rights.

IMRAN KHAN’S APPEAL FROM JAIL

The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since 2023 after being convicted in a web of corruption cases.

“In recent days, the harsh treatment I face in jail has intensified. The same applies to my wife. Even the television in her cell has been switched off. All basic rights – both human and those legally granted to prisoners – have been suspended for both of us,” Khan said.

The former Prime Minister, who was voted out of power through a no-confidence motion, claimed a colonel and the jail superintendent were carrying out actions on the “orders of Asim Munir”.

“Therefore, I give clear instructions to my party. If anything happens to me in jail, Asim Munir must be held accountable,” the post further said.

The former Prime Minister had previously said he was caged like a “terrorist” in a “death cell”.

CALL AHEAD OF AUGUST PROTESTS

The timing of the post is crucial, coming days ahead of planned nationwide protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to press the Shehbaz Sharif government to free Khan.

The protests are likely to be led by Khan’s two sons, Suleman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan, who have so far distanced themselves from dabbling in politics.

Earlier this month, Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith said the government has not allowed any communication between him and his sons.

“My children have not been allowed to speak on the phone to their father. He has been in solitary confinement in prison for nearly 2 years,” Goldsmith tweeted.

WHY ASIM MUNIR IS TARGETING IMRAN KHAN

Khan also claimed that the treatment being meted out to him and Bushra Bibi by Asim Munir was due to an incident that happened when he was the prime minister.

He said after Munir was removed as ISI chief, his request for a meeting with Bushra Bibi was snubbed.

“When Asim Munir was removed from his post of ISI chief, he attempted to send a message to Bushra Bibi through Zulfi Bukhari (PTI leader), requesting a meeting. She firmly refused,” Khan said.

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