'My message to Asim Munir is this ...': Jailed ex-PM Imran Khan blasts Pak army chief

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan

In yet another scathing remark against Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, jailed former prime minister Imran Khan said that the Field Marshal's policy on Afghanistan is "flawed" and his "short-sightedness is destroying the peace in the region".

In a post on the ousted PM's social media account, the 72-year-old said that Asim Munir has made things worse in Afghanistan in an attempt to appease the lobby that opposes the Taliban rulers.

"In an attempt to appease the lobby that opposes the current government in Afghanistan, Asim Munir, in his short-sightedness, is destroying the peace that was established in the region during our tenure. Where there should have been a strong relationship, things are being made worse," Khan said.

The jailed leader rued the mass deportation of Afghan brothers, especially at a time when the country has been hit by a deadly earthquake.

"It grieves me deeply that after decades of hospitality, our Afghan brothers are now being forcibly pushed out of Pakistan. At a time when Afghanistan has been struck by an earthquake, we ought to be helping them, not expelling them," he added.

He said the sham government of Shehbaz Sharif must answer that if Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz can travel to Japan and Thailand, why should the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not be able to travel to Afghanistan for peace in his province?

Khan added that the ongoing military operations by Pakistan, drone strikes, and forced displacements of "our own people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are in reality an attempt to undermine Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government that was formed with a public mandate".

"The people of the province are already devastated by floods. If drone strikes and military operations are not stopped, it will be a grave injustice," he said, adding that as long as this operation continues, the hardships of the people will increase and terrorism will intensify further.

He said he continues to be held in solitary confinement.

"Even family members and lawyers are barred from meeting me. I have not been allowed to meet my political colleagues for a year and a half. My message to Asim Munir is this -- no matter how much pressure you put on me, or which of my family members you throw into prison, I will neither bow down nor accept this oppression. I will continue my struggle for true freedom, come what may," Khan declared.  The PTI founder has accused Munir of imposing undeclared martial law in Pakistan and imposing a puppet government of Shehbaz Sharif by stealing the mandate in February last year.

Khan has been critical of Munir since he was removed from power and has accused the army chief of being power-hungry and imposing a dictatorship in Pakistan.

Khan has alleged that Munir orchestrated the violent May 9 riots to consolidate control and has compared him to former military ruler Yahya Khan, accusing him of inflicting oppression on the people to prolong his rule and weaken the country. Khan also claimed that he and his wife are subjected to solitary confinement and mental torture, intended to silence his political voice.

(With inputs from PTI)