The Power Struggle Between Imran Khan and Asim Munir: Pakistan's Political Crisis Explained

In 2019, a significant power shift occurred when Lieutenant General Asim Munir was dismissed as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief merely eight months into his appointment during Imran Khan's tenure as Prime Minister. General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Pakistan Army chief, had personally selected Munir for this critical position.

Six years later, the tables have dramatically turned. Munir now serves as Pakistan's inaugural Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a position established through the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment. In this role, he commands all three military branches—army, air force, and navy—with authority extending until 2030.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, remains incarcerated. Despite his imprisonment, Khan continues to wield significant influence, arguably surpassing Munir's power.

The 2019 dismissal reportedly stemmed from Munir's interest in investigating corruption allegations surrounding Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, and her associates. This purportedly displeased the then-Prime Minister, leading to Munir's premature removal from his ISI leadership position.

The military provided no explanation for this unexpected restructuring, which truncated Munir's anticipated three-year term to just eight months. Four years later, in 2023, Khan firmly denied these allegations on social media platform X, declaring, "This is completely false. Neither did Gen Asim show me any proof of my wife's corruption nor did I make him resign because of that."

Khan's political fortunes deteriorated in April 2022 when he lost a pivotal no-confidence vote in Pakistan's National Assembly. This historic defeat made him the first Pakistani Prime Minister ever removed through such a constitutional mechanism, with opposition parties securing 174 votes in the 342-member legislative body.

Since August 2023, the 73-year-old Khan has been imprisoned following convictions in multiple cases he claims are politically motivated. Confined to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Khan's family alleges being denied visitation rights for over a month and has demanded proof of his well-being.

Responding to speculation about Khan's health, Adiala Jail authorities recently affirmed that the former leader remains in "completely good health."

In May 2023, Khan published an opinion piece in The Telegraph accusing Munir's military establishment of systematically attempting to eradicate his party from Pakistan's political landscape. Khan explicitly warned that should anything happen to him, Munir would bear responsibility.

"The military establishment has done all they could against me. All that is left for them is to now murder me. I have stated publicly that if anything happens to me or my wife, General Asim Munir will be responsible. But I am not afraid because my faith is strong. I would prefer death over slavery," Khan wrote.

Despite over 800 days of imprisonment in solitary confinement, with his party symbol banned and public addresses censored, Khan maintains remarkable public support across Pakistan. To many citizens, he represents more than a politician—he embodies moral leadership in a nation yearning for justice.

Khan's Pashtun heritage, belonging to Pakistan's second-largest ethnic group, presents a challenge to the country's military establishment. Historically, Pashtuns have reported human rights violations and military-inflicted violence, which catalyzed the Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement in 2020.

According to Minority Rights Group, Pashtuns frequently become targets of security forces through raids and abductions, while many struggle with displacement and negative representation in society. This ethnic tension contributes to broader demographic resentment that concerns Munir's leadership.

When rumors of Khan's death circulated, protests erupted nationwide with supporters demanding access to the former prime minister.

Bushra Bibi, Khan's third wife, is widely regarded as his spiritual advisor. She reportedly predicted his political ascendancy years ago, earning reverence among his supporters. Now charged with unlawful marriage and corruption, she serves a seven-year sentence and faces the same silencing as her husband.

According to Khan's son, the former prime minister remains isolated in a death cell under complete seclusion, while speculation about his health and whereabouts persists.