Last Updated:
Army chief Gen Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on Tuesday for his role in the recent conflict with India.
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan. (AP File Image)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday took a jibe at Army Chief General Asim Munir, who recently got promoted to a position of Field Marshal, saying that the latter should have given himself the title of “king” instead of field marshal as the country is currently governed by the jungle law.
“MashaAllah, General Asim Munir has been made Field Marshal. Though frankly, it might have been more fitting to give him the title of ’King’ instead — because right now, the country is ruled by the law of the jungle. And in the jungle, there is only one king,” the former primer said in a post on X as reported by news agency PTI.
Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on Tuesday for his role in the recent conflict with India, becoming the second top military officer in the country’s history to be elevated to the position.
Preferring to operate from behind the scenes, he only recently came out amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. He was painted as a hero after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 — one of the deadliest strikes in the Valley that claimed 26 lives.
The jailed leader categorically denied any rumors of a deal or ongoing dialogue, labeling them “baseless lies.” However, he extended an open invitation to the military establishment for talks, provided their concern was genuinely for Pakistan’s interests and future.
“No deal has taken place, nor is any dialogue underway. These are baseless lies. The country is facing external threats, a surge in terrorism, and an economic crisis. We must unite. I have never asked for anything for myself before, nor will I now,” Khan added.
Khan further warned the Shehbaz Sharif-led government to prepare for another potential retaliatory attack from New Delhi. He further lamented that Pakistan had become a country where the law applied only to the weak, never to the powerful.
Khan further said that over the past three years, Pakistan’s moral and constitutional framework has been utterly destroyed.
“A farcical trial has been resumed in the Toshakhana-II case. Just like in prison, court proceedings are dictated by the will of a single colonel. My sisters and lawyers are being barred from court; my companions are not allowed to meet me; I am denied contact with my children for months; even my books are not delivered, and I am denied access to my physician. This is a continued violation of court orders and laws,” he said.
He said he received information about drone attacks carried out in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to officially lodge a protest with the federal government and take immediate steps to stop these drone strikes.
“The killing of innocent civilians in drone attacks does not reduce terrorism as it only fuels it further. After years of struggle, we had succeeded in halting American drone operations in Pakistan. If you claim to be against terrorism, then do not drop bombs on the homes of your own people,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
- First Published:
