Imran Khan requests COAS Gen Asim to become 'neutral'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala jail, urged Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir to stay 'neutral' amid the current political situation in the country.

The former prime minister's message was conveyed by his sister Aleema Khan, who met Mr Khan in Rawalpindi prison on Friday.

While talking to the media outside jail, Aleema Khan, quoting Imran Khan, said that the top militaryman should remain neutral in the current political situation.

She said that Imran Khan has requested to use CCTV footage to identify those responsible for the May 9 riots.

"He [Mr Khan] also requested [the authorities] to release innocent people from the jail," she added.

The veteran politician refuted the claims circulated in the media that he had accepted to give a protest call outside General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9, 2023.

"We have never given a malicious call," Imran's sister said quoting his jailed brother.

"If there is no rule of law, how will the country move forward," the ousted premier said in a message conveyed by Ms Aleema.

Earlier, the cricketer-turned-politician alleged that the PMLN-led coalition government aims to create a rift between the army and PTI.

"[PM] Shehbaz Sharif and the current government are trying to pit the army against the masses and PTI but 90 percent of Pakistan’s population supports PTI and stands by Imran Khan," party secretary general Omar Ayub Khan said quoting Mr Khan.