At least he’s keeping busy.
From his cell in Adiala, where he’s serving a 14-year term, Imran Khan sent jail mail yesterday to Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir.
In his letter, Khan lashes out at the Army for propping up “corrupt” politicians through what he claims were rigged elections last year. Never mind that the 2018 elections, which brought his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to power, were no less controversial. He warns of economic instability under the current government—even though, objectively, long-term prospects have improved from tough, unpopular choices.
Despite the PTI’s relentless trolling of the establishment on social media, Khan protests free-speech restrictions online—even though these have the seal and stamp of legislation. He argues that the Army has eroded its own esteem by cracking down on the PTI, though when in power, his government preferred brutality over bargain as policy.
Finally, the letter implores the not-having-it Army chief to reconsider policies that are polarizing society, claiming that national unity is vital to defeating terrorism—sidestepping the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s feebleness that is emboldening militants.
Khan’s appeal to the establishment feels like a comedown from his righteous rigidity. But the Army is not biting. Its proxies insist that the military has no political role whatsoever. That is a stretch.
Meanwhile, the PTI is losing steam. It had held on to hope that the Trump administration and U.S. Congress would demand Khan’s release, and that the Islamabad High Court would throw out his hasty convictions. None of this has come to pass.
The Army wants Khan to bide his time, slink off, and take the Nawaz Sharif route: stay party leader, but forget about power. It wants him unseen and shushed so it can desperately repackage Pakistan as a stable home for foreign investment.
Khan will be a robust 76 when the next elections roll around. If he plays along, the PTI could once again be the party to beat—or beat up on.
The Army’s advice might serve Khan well. If only he weren’t so busy.