ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan of attempting to create a rift between the military and the public. He claimed that Khan wrote a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir with the intention of sowing discord and causing misunderstandings within the armed forces.
Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, Sanaullah raised questions about the origin of Khan’s letters from jail, asking, “Where are these letters coming from? If he wants to engage in political struggle, he should do so in parliament.” Recently, Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, revealed that the PTI leader had sent a six-point letter to the army chief while incarcerated.
Details of the Letter
The letter reportedly raised several concerns, including:
- Alleged election fraud and the victory of individuals accused of money laundering.
- The 26th Constitutional Amendment, rule of law, and judicial independence.
- The Al-Qadir Trust case verdict.
- Terrorism charges, raids, and the use of force against PTI workers.
- The role of intelligence agencies in the current political scenario.
- A request to the army chief to “change policies.”
Sanaullah Questions Judicial Appointments
Sanaullah also weighed in on the ongoing debate over judicial appointments, specifically questioning whether the recent transfers of judges in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) were constitutional.
“Was Article 200 or the 26th Amendment not part of the Constitution? If we start questioning, even the judges’ letter raises serious concerns,” he said. He further criticized PTI’s stance on the judiciary, pointing to the party’s opposition to the appointments of Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Tariq Jahangiri.
“Were the chief justice and the judges wrong, and those who wrote the letter right?” he asked.
Transfers of Judges to IHC
The transfer of three judges — Justice Sarfraz Dogar (Lahore High Court), Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro (Sindh High Court), and Justice Muhammad Asif (Balochistan High Court) — to the Islamabad High Court has sparked significant criticism from the legal community. The judges began their duties in IHC last week.
However, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi defended the transfers, describing them as constitutional and a positive step. He also emphasized the importance of inducting more judges from other provinces into the IHC.
