Tyranny Unmasked: General Asim Munir's Assault On Imran Khan & Pakistan's Democracy
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Imran Khan's suffering is not just his own—it is a mirror held up to Pakistan's soul
In the sweltering confines of Adiala Jail, former prime minister Imran Khan endures a torment that is not just physical but a calculated assault on Pakistan's democratic soul. General Asim Munir, the unelected arbiter of the nation's fate, has unleashed a mercenary cartel that thrives on fear, manipulation, and the systematic dismantling of dissent. Through unprecedented tactics—demanding a polygraph test, enforcing a cruel ban on family contact, and wielding Bushra Bibi as both bait and potential puppet—Munir's regime reveals a chilling playbook designed to crush Khan and the hopes of millions who see him as Pakistan's last bastion of resistance. But at what cost to the nation's future?
A Polygraph to Silence Truth
Why would a former prime minister, a figure of global stature, be subjected to a polygraph test, a measure unprecedented in Pakistan's legal and military history? The demand, tied to the May 9, 2023, riots, is not about justice but about humiliation. Khan's refusal to comply exposes the test for what it is: a theatrical ploy to paint him as a criminal, orchestrated by a military desperate to justify his incarceration. What does this say about a regime that resorts to such extra-legal measures to silence a political rival? Is this the rule of law or the rule of a junta cloaked in constitutional garb?
A Family Torn Apart
Khan's isolation in Adiala Jail is not just a punishment but a psychological weapon. A complete ban on meetings with his sisters and phone calls with his sons—despite court orders—strips him of basic human dignity. For six months, he was allowed only three calls with his children, confined to a dark cell for weeks without sunlight or electricity. Why must a man who led a nation be cut off from those who sustain his spirit? Is Munir's goal to break Khan's resolve, or to ensure his voice cannot rally the masses? This deliberate cruelty, echoes what Israeli generals are being accused of perpetrating in Gaza against innocent Palestinians. In the Muslim world, two tyrants come to mind, Yazeed and Pharoah.
Bushra Bibi's role in this saga is as troubling as it is enigmatic. Her impassioned call to protesters at D-Chowk on November 26, 2024, promised unwavering resolve: 'I will never leave you." Yet, as the Islamabad Massacre unfolded, leaving unarmed citizens bloodied under Munir's brutal crackdown, she was nowhere to be found. Eyewitnesses place her in a bulletproof SUV, far from the frontline, before she vanished with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Why did she abandon the very people she vowed to lead? Her 10-day silence after the tragedy, coupled with unverified claims of abduction and gunfire, only deepens the mystery. Is she a victim of military coercion, a reluctant leader thrust into a role she cannot fulfill, or something more calculated—a potential successor should Khan be eliminated? Her sister Maryam Watoo's tweets, pleading for sympathy while Khan languishes in a C-class cell, ring hollow to loyalists who question her motives. What explains Bushra's failure to contact Khan since her bail on October 24, 2024? Is she a pawn in Munir's game, or a player whose actions betray the cause?
A Nation at the Crossroads
General Asim Munir's tactics—polygraphs, isolation, and manipulation—reveal a regime not of strength but of desperation. By targeting Khan, a leader whose popularity dwarfs that of his jailers, Munir risks alienating a nation already simmering with resentment. The Islamabad Massacre, where peaceful protesters faced live ammunition, is a stain on Pakistan's conscience, a testament to a military that rules not by consent but by force. How long can a nation endure such tyranny before it mobilises from a peaceful into a bloody revolution? What will it take for the international community to hold Munir's cartel accountable for its human rights abuses?
Imran Khan's suffering is not just his own—it is a mirror held up to Pakistan's soul. Will we allow a mercenary cartel to dictate our future, or will we demand a return to the democratic ideals for which this nation was founded? The answers lie not in the shadows of Adiala Jail, but in the courage of those who dare to speak truth to power.
Salman Ahmad is a UN Goodwill Ambassador and author of the book Rock and Roll Jihad. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
First Published:
May 31, 2025, 11:11 IST
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