he ongoing political stalemate makes one wonder about the strategies behind the various moves by those involved in the current crisis. Recently, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif extended another offer to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to return to the table. The offer was rejected. The PTI has terminated formal negotiation with the government. This indicates that the party just might have other plans as revealed through several of their recent moves. The party’s plan to stage a protest on February 8, and Imran Khan’s letter to the army chief hint at other strategies.

A PTI insider revealed to The News on Sunday, “Imran Khan is of the view that talks with the ruling coalition will be a waste of time and will not serve the PTI’s interest, especially after his conviction.”

“Now, the PTI is working on a three-pronged strategy: accelerating our anti-government drive through street protests; formation of a larger opposition alliance; and fresh efforts to win over the army.”

Recently, Khan directed party leaders to contact various leaders for the formation of an opposition alliance, stressing that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should be requested to lead the alliance. In this connection, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Sunni Ittehad Council’s Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and other PTI leaders met in Islamabad.

The meeting, according to informed sources, decided to form a steering committee and requested Abbasi to head it. After the meeting, Abbasi told the media that the meeting was informal and nothing had been finalised yet.

Meanwhile, the PTI has called for protest on February 8. The party has directed its supporters to go underground to avoid arrests and ensure their presence in the protest.

What has stunned political observers is the letter claimed to have been written by Imran Khan to Gen Asim Munir. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali informed the media about the letter, stating that they will soon make the contents public. Imran Khan is said to have written that a rift had emerged between the military and the people, and if nothing was done to bridge it, the country could not be saved.

Acknowledging the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army, the letter states, “This army and this country are ours. We do not seek chaos.” Following this assurance, the complaints conveyed to the army chief emphasise that the military is currently supporting an “unrepresentative government” and that this has led to public unrest and growing distrust of the army. Therefore, the letter goes on to state, in the interest of the nation, and as a former prime minister and founder of the country’s largest political party, Imran Khan sees it as his duty to alert the army chief to the gravity of the situation so that policies can be reconsidered.

Recently, Khan directed party leaders to contact various leaders for the formation of an opposition alliance, stressing that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should be requested to lead the alliance. 

Based on the letter’s contents, as relayed by Gohar Ali and Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, it is not difficult to infer that the PTI founder is essentially stating that the military is the only real power in Pakistan and that nothing in the political, judicial or administrative matters can take place without its consent. He describes the army as the “source of power” and urges it to change its policies in the “greater national interest” to restore stability and end the ongoing unrest.

Analysing the letter from this perspective, it appears that after years of claiming to fight for constitutional democracy and convincing his supporters that he was “standing firm against oppression” and would accept nothing less than “true freedom,” even if it costs him his life or a lifetime behind bars, Imran Khan has now taken a different approach. In an unexpected turn, the leader who once vowed to resist, has humbly requested the army chief to reconsider the appointment of the current prime minister, arguing that the decision was flawed and is pushing the country towards destruction. He warns that the public is angry with the military over this “mistake.” Presenting himself as a well-wisher of the military, he insists he “cannot remain silent” and has been “compelled” to inform the army chief of certain realities which, for some reason, may not have been conveyed to him.

Imran Khan and his advisors are surely aware that they will receive no response from the army chief and that the military will not change its stance. Given that, the primary reason for Imran Khan’s letter appears to be his desire to remain in the news and reinforce the idea that he alone dominates Pakistan’s political landscape.

Just a few days ago, Imran Khan had sent an 18-page letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, accompanied by 300 pages of “evidence” of state oppression against the PTI. Under normal circumstances, a reasonable petitioner would have allowed sufficient time for consideration. However, within days, he wrote to the army chief suggesting that after seeking justice from the Judiciary, he has concluded that what he needs is something the courts cannot provide; but the army chief can. The petitioner has turned to the “real centre of power.”

There is justice to be served. Imran Khan and his party deserve justice; state oppression against his party and supporters must end. Courts should function more effectively. But justice is not defined solely by what Imran Khan desires. The era of “umpire’s finger” and being “on the same page [with the army]” is over. Political victories must be earned through public support, not military backing.

The question is: what if all of Khan’s pleading fails to achieve its purpose? Will he then once again return to negotiate with the political parties running the coalition government?

The author is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. His X handle: @BukhariMubasher