A video of a digital billboard at New York’s Times Square went viral recently, showing a truck-mounted screen publicly criticising Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The billboard was apparently put up by supporters of jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
The billboards described Asim Munir, who was recently elevated to the field marshal rank, as a "liar" and "fraud marshal". It also labeled President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz Sharif as his "two crooks".
"Liar. Why don't you also take a polygraph test," read one of the captions, referring to the repeated attempts by the Sharif government to force Imran Khan to take a lie detector test.
The billboard also called Munir a "loser" and "fraud marshal", mocking his recent elevation to the highest military rank in the country.
It also displayed a picture of Munir with Sharif and Zardari, saying: "The deceiver and his two crooks: Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif."
Taking a dig at PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif, the billboard said that the former PM "will do anything for self interest."
It also lashed out at the civilian government and the military establishment for "illegally detaining" Imran Khan for two years.
The clips of the billboard at NYC's busiest street were widely shared by Indians online, with many taking a dig at Pakistan's internal political problems.
Anger against military
The billboard display comes at a time when Munir is tightening his grip on power at home even as many Pakistanis remain disillusioned with the all-powerful military and its crackdown against Imran Khan.
Notably, Imran Khan's aides had won a majority of seats in the general elections held last year. Despite that, a coalition led by Shehbaz Sharif's PML-N formed a government at the centre - with a strong backing of the military.
Following the arrest of Imran Khan in 2023, Pakistan witnessed widespread protests led by his supporters, who accused the military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government of orchestrating his ouster.
Demonstrations erupted across major cities, with protesters targeting military installations, including the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore.
The government responded with a severe crackdown, arresting thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members and supporters.
Despite the government's efforts to suppress dissent, protests persisted, with demonstrators demanding Khan's release and calling for new elections.
In November 2024, thousands of Khan's supporters defied security barriers and lockdowns to enter Islamabad, leading to violent clashes with security forces.
Munir's elevation
Meanwhile, General Munir’s elevation to the rank of field marshal, close on the heels of military escalation between India and Pakistan, is being viewed as a calculated step to contain the fallout from India’s bold Operation Sindoor strikes and to potentially block Imran Khan’s political comeback.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported, citing defence sources, that Sharif promoted Munir in exchange for the latter's commitment to block Imran Khan’s return to power.
The promotion was also an attempt to propogate the idea that Pakistan emerged as a "victor" in the conflict with India. This, despite India inflicting heavy damage on the neighbour and destroying several of its airbases during Operation Sindoor.
The billboards signal that despite Islamabad’s PR campaign to project General Munir as a national hero and repair his faltering public image, many—particularly Imran Khan supporters—remain deeply resentful against the army.
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