LAHORE, May 13: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has publicly held Army Chief General Asim Munir responsible for his recent arrest on May 9, distancing himself from the subsequent violence that unfolded across the country. Khan expressed these allegations during an informal conversation with media personnel at the Islamabad High Court. The court, providing a temporary respite, granted Khan protective bail for two weeks in a corruption case and prohibited his arrest in any other cases until Monday. Multiple benches of the IHC facilitated this relief, with tight security arrangements in place.
During a break, Khan, responding to a BBC correspondent’s query, refuted the notion that security agencies were against him while the judiciary was favoring him. He specifically pointed a finger at the Army chief, stating, “It’s not the security agencies. It’s one man, the Army chief. There is no democracy in the Army. The Army is getting maligned with what is happening.” Khan further alleged that the Army chief was apprehensive about being removed from his position if Khan came to power, insinuating that the actions against him were a direct consequence of the Army chief’s orders.
Khan’s arrest took place at the Islamabad High Court by paramilitary Rangers while he was undergoing a biometric process prior to a court hearing. The Rangers, operating under the Interior Ministry, are typically led by officers seconded from the Pakistan Army. The former premier also accused the government of victimizing his party, asserting that around 5,000 individuals had been arrested over the past year. He claimed to have survived two assassination attempts and expressed disappointment over the rejection of his demand for an investigation.
Responding to a journalist’s query regarding the relief he received from the Supreme Court, Khan highlighted that he was still inside the court premises and emphasized the unjustifiability of his arrest. He described it as an abduction, as he was only shown a warrant after being taken to jail. Khan lamented the absence of law and police, suggesting that the country seemed to be under martial law. While Khan maintained his unawareness of the developments that occurred after his arrest, he acknowledged the loss of 40 lives during the two-day protests.
Khan alleged that he was subjected to torture and struck on the head with a baton during his arrest but deemed his treatment while in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as “fair.” He disavowed responsibility for the incidents that unfolded during his custody, responding to critics who held him accountable for violent protests and damage to public and private property.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticized Khan for targeting the Army chief, accusing him of harboring an anti-national mindset and propagating false narratives. Sharif asserted that Khan’s statement indirectly acknowledged his involvement in the events of May 9 and blamed him for the desecration of martyrs’ memorials and attacks on sensitive installations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, responded to the allegations, reaffirming the unity of the Pakistan Army under the leadership of Army Chief General Asim Munir. He dismissed the notion of internal or external forces attempting to divide the army, stating that such dreams would remain unfulfilled.
