Lahore, Dec 23: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a nationwide street movement against what he termed “Asim Law,” an apparent reference to Chief of Defence Forces General Asim Munir.
In a message posted on social media on Monday, Khan directed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party to prepare for protests, urging citizens to rise for their rights and asserting that the country is no longer governed by constitutional law.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple cases following his removal from office in April 2022. On Saturday, he and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in jail each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case.
Khan dismissed the verdict as predetermined, claiming court rulings are written in advance and announced without due process, evidence, or adherence to legal standards.
The former prime minister alleged that Pakistan is being run solely under “Asim Law,” accusing the military leadership of orchestrating legal actions against him.
He claimed his imprisonment conditions amount to inhumane treatment, citing prolonged solitary confinement, denial of books, television access, and restrictions on meetings. Khan said his wife has been denied facilities routinely available to other prisoners and described the treatment as severe mental torture.
Despite these conditions, Khan said his resolve remains unbroken and framed his struggle as one for “Haqeeqi Azadi” or true freedom.
He criticised what he described as the military-backed government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and insisted his criticism of General Munir is directed at an individual, not the armed forces as an institution.
Khan also urged the Insaf Lawyers Forum and the broader legal fraternity to play a decisive role in restoring the rule of law and upholding the Constitution, arguing that justice is essential for Pakistan’s political stability, economic progress, and moral development. (PTI)
