‘Pakistan Under Asim Law’: Imran Khan Alleges He Is Being Tortured in Prison
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again criticised Army Chief Asim Munir, alleging that “Asim Law” has been enforced in the country, resulting in the collapse of law and order.
The 72-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, who has been in jail since August 2023 after being named in several cases, accused the country’s military intelligence agency, the ISI, of shielding Munir.
“Field Marshal Asim Munir is bringing shame to the military just like Yahya Khan did in the past,” Khan said.
The former PM also mocked the Shehbaz Sharif-led administration, calling it a ‘coalition of looters and fools’ that has seized complete control of Pakistan.
“Currently, the Parliament, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and the judiciary are all unconstitutional,” he alleged.
He further accused the Army Chief of being responsible for the killing of unarmed civilians during the November 26, 2024 incident in Islamabad.
Claims of Torture in Jail
Khan also claimed that he is being held in isolation for 22 hours each day and accused the Jail Superintendent of physically mistreating him.
Previously, the ex-cricketer had issued a grave warning from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, urging his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members to hold Asim Munir “responsible and answerable” if anything were to happen to him behind bars.
He also alleged mistreatment of both himself and his wife, Bushra Bibi, stating that their basic human rights were being denied.
Khan said he is being treated worse than convicted militants, claiming that a military officer sentenced for murder was receiving VIP privileges in prison.
“Meanwhile, I am being subjected to constant harassment. But no matter what they do, I have never surrendered to tyranny and I never will,” he asserted.
What Happened in November?
In November last year, Pakistani security forces carried out a major late-night operation targeting the supporters of the jailed ex-premier who had entered the capital to demand his release. Thousands of demonstrators had reached the centre of Islamabad, led by a convoy headed by Khan’s wife, after pushing past several layers of security into the capital’s tightly guarded red zone.
At least six individuals, including four paramilitary personnel, were reported dead during the confrontation.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the four security personnel died after being rammed by a vehicle.
However, PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari rejected this version, claiming that it was protesters who had died. He said that two demonstrators lost their lives and 30 others were wounded. According to him, one was shot dead and the other was run over by a vehicle.
