By Vimal Sumbly
Former Pakistan Prime Minister and world-famous cricketer Imran Khan is in jail since 2023. Till the first week of November, he was allowed weekly meetings as per the jail manual.
However, since November 4, nobody has been allowed to meet him. This has raised concern among his relatives and supporters. His three sisters staged a protest demonstration outside the jail where they were beaten up by the police. His son Kasim Khan has also demanded that the Pakistan government should provide proof that Imran is alive and he is doing well inside the jail.
Most of the political leaders in Pakistan have met the tragic and fatal fate right from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged to death by military dictator Gen Zia Ul Haq, his daughter Benazir Bhutto who was killed in a suicide bomb attack and Nawaz Sharif who had to trade his life for exile under the military regime of another dictator Gen Pervez Musharaf. Musharaf appeared to be bit kinder by offering exile as an option.
There is concern about the life and security of Imran in view of the overriding powers Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has assumed. First, he got himself designated as Field Marshal, a title otherwise reserved for someone who has led and won a decisive war. He fought none, so no question of winning it.
After that, he was recently designated as the Joint Chief of Staff including army, navy and air force. Given the military tradition in Pakistan when every ambitious general ends up taking the reins of power himself directly, there is little doubt that Munir may not follow the tradition and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors like Gen Zia and Gen Musharaf.
Imran still remains the most popular politician in Pakistan even after being in jail for years now. Incumbent Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is just a pygmy and has been gladly playing second fiddle to Field Marshal Munir. Whatever Munir wants him to do, Sharif does it without any resistance.
Apparently realising what defiance of the army chief would mean and that too someone like Asim Munir, who has the distinction of dining exclusively with US President Donald Trump. It is an acknowledged fact that Trump considers Munir as the defacto ruler of Pakistan and he has been directly dealing with him instead of Prime Minister Sharif.
Under such circumstances, if anyone can defy or challenge Munir, it is Imran. Their hostility dates back to the time when Imran was the prime minister and Munir had been appointed Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Imran removed him in less than a year. The removal was attributed to Munir having produced evidence against Imran’s wife for corruption. Imran, however, strongly denied this as the reason for Munir’s removal as DG ISI.
Also read: Jailed former Pak PM Imran Khan in ‘good health’: Authorities
Later, when his successor Shahbaz Sharif proposed to appoint Munir as the Chief of Army Staff, Khan strongly opposed the move, although he was not in a position to scuttle it. Munir eventually made it to the coveted position.
Munir obviously does not seem to have forgotten all this; neither his unceremonious exit as the DG ISI nor Imran’s strong resistance to his appointment as the COAS. And now he seems to be seeking revenge. Imran may never have visualised that at any point of time, the person whom he removed as the DG ISI will be deciding about his life or death.
Imran may be alive. The reports/ rumours about his death appear to have been spread by the Pakistan army and ISI as part of their mind games. Munir, undoubtedly is seeking a direct role in running Pakistan. It is only a matter of time when he will formally take over the government and he is preparing ground for that.
By spreading the news about the death of Imran in custody, he is trying to gauge the reactions of the people across the country and also conveying a blunt message to Khan and his supporters that everything is possible.
Munir appears to be trying to negotiate a deal with Imran, like Gen Musharaf negotiated with Nawaz Sharif that settled at the latter's "voluntary" exile to Saudi Arabia.
Given the United States’ tendency to “sup and sleep with” anyone whom it finds useful, Munir knows whatever he will do, he will not be opposed by the US. If US President Donald Trump can defend Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, despite his clear involvement in the killing of the Arab-origin US journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he can also defend Munir as long as he serves his purpose.
US policy makers have said on record from time to time that they do not mind “working with dictators and authoritarian regimes” as long as they serve the US purpose.
In all probability Imran might be resisting all such proposals of “carrot and stick”. Probably because he has been putting up such strong resistance against any proposal that seeks a compromise, rather than surrender before Munir, the issue is getting delayed. Right now, Munir appears to be holding all the aces up his sleeve, including the “Ace of Trumps” himself.
Although Trump described Imran as his “good friend”, given his record of dumping his friends for personal, business or diplomatic interests, there is less likelihood that the former Pakistan prime minister can bank upon his support in any manner. Munir has so much to offer to Trump, including some “rare earths” and friendly “crypto-deals”, which Imran can’t offer while being in jail.
The way the situation is playing out, the coming days will be full of suspense in Pakistan. Imran has been an ace all-rounder in his cricketing career. How far he plays against Munir will be interesting to watch. Munir’s bouncer can be fatal. Prayers for the safety and long life of Imran, even though he is no friend of India, either.
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