Lahore (Pakistan), September 6: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, has accused the country’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir of “inflicting oppression” to extend his rule and undermine democratic freedoms.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Khan alleged that Munir had imposed “an undeclared martial law,” orchestrated electoral manipulation in February’s elections, and installed a “puppet government” under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Today Asim Munir is inflicting oppression on the people of Pakistan to prolong his own rule, thus weakening the country,” Khan wrote.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief, ousted in April 2022, has repeatedly accused the military of interfering in politics and cracking down on his supporters. Thousands of PTI workers have been detained in recent months amid allegations of anti-government protests turning violent.
The Army and government have so far rejected these accusations, insisting that actions against PTI workers were taken in line with law and order measures following attacks on military installations earlier this year.
Khan’s latest remarks come as Pakistan navigates political and economic instability, with calls for early elections and concerns over growing civil-military tensions.