Islamabad: Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has written a third open letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, reiterating allegations of election rigging and “bringing money launderers” into power, his lawyer confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, “The PTI founder, in his letter, has raised concerns over how election fraud was used to give preference to the minority over the majority.”
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August 2023 and previously wrote two open letters to the army chief on February 3 and February 8, stating that “all democratic avenues had been obstructed.”
Letters Highlight Growing Public-Military Distance
In his previous letters, Imran Khan pointed out what he claimed was an increasing divide between the military and the public. He outlined six key points and urged the army to reassess its policies to regain public support.
Faisal Chaudhry quoted Imran Khan as saying that “money launderers were brought to power through election rigging.” Khan further claimed that terrorism was rising due to the absence of the rule of law.
The PTI founder also alleged that “at least 1.8 million people have left the country, while $20 billion in capital has been moved abroad.”
PTI Stands Firm on Judicial Commissions
Chaudhry reiterated PTI’s demand for the formation of judicial commissions to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024.
He also accused the government of continuing a crackdown on PTI workers in Punjab following the February 8 general elections.
Meanwhile, PTI chief whip Aamir Dogar has been included in the negotiation committee with the opposition, and additional members are expected to be added to the political committee.
Government’s Strong Reaction
The government has strongly reacted to Imran Khan’s letters. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, accused Khan of attempting to create divisions between the military and the public or cause misunderstandings within the army’s leadership.
Sanaullah also questioned how Khan was managing to send letters from jail. “If he wants to engage in political struggle, he should do so in the parliament,” he said.
‘Expression of Desperation’
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui labeled Imran Khan’s letter as a sign of “desperation and frustration.”
He described the letter as a “charge sheet” and recalled that Khan had previously sent a letter to the army chief via former president Arif Alvi in 2023.
“They [PTI] did not receive a receipt or a reply to the previous letter, and they will not receive one this time either,” Siddiqui added.
