New Delhi: Growing increasingly insecure over former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s rising public support, the Pakistan Army is reportedly preparing a stringent crackdown on him and his party, the PTI. Despite multiple rounds of talks after his ouster and arrest, officials say Khan has refused every offer, including proposals discussed in recent weeks.
According to sources, the army is considering one final attempt at negotiations. If Khan remains defiant, it may push for a ban on the PTI or urge the government to try him on treason charges. The military has been attempting to portray Khan as a national security threat, arguing that he could leak sensitive information gained during his tenure as Prime Minister. There is also an effort to depict him as mentally unstable to justify severe action.
Khan has reportedly rejected offers of safe passage and political asylum abroad, further frustrating the military leadership. The establishment also blames him for normalising ties with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Afghan Taliban during his tenure—groups that have now become major security challenges. With terror attacks rising by nearly 500 per cent amid the TTP’s resurgence, the army holds the former PM responsible for facilitating the return of militants.
Analysts warn that extreme actions such as banning the PTI or prosecuting Khan for treason could spark massive public unrest. Imran Khan remains one of Pakistan’s most popular figures, and attempts to suppress him may trigger widespread protests difficult for the establishment to control. Officials indicate that before taking any drastic step, the military plans to build its narrative by accusing Khan of reviving militancy, mishandling foreign policy, and posing risks to national security.
