DND Report: It was long anticipated that former prime minister Imran Khan Niazi would once again resort to abusing state institutions—primarily the Pakistan Army—once it became evident that the establishment would not pardon him. That expected situation has now unfolded.
The turning point came after a strong response from the state over an article by senior journalist Sohail Warriach, who had speculated that Imran Khan might secure forgiveness if he tendered an apology. Official quarters categorically, loudly, and clearly rejected this notion, stating that Khan must face his convictions and that only through due process of law—not apology—could he come out of jail. Thus, the formula of “pardoning if he apologizes” collapsed, leaving Khan cornered and frustrated. As a result, he has once again reloaded his guns, with his familiar target being the Chief of the Pakistan Army.
Khan’s detractors describe him as a “habitual liar” with traits of multiple personality disorder, pointing out that his rhetoric reeks of frustration, bitterness, and an irreparably poisoned mindset.
Government insiders assert that every time his appeals for mercy and relief from prison are ignored, Khan returns to hurling venom against virtually everyone—a pattern they call his “old defeated habit.” Following the recent punishments awarded by Anti-Terrorism Courts to culprits of the May 9 violence, Khan now feels the noose tightening around him, given his alleged role as the mastermind of those riots. In his attempts to make the matter appear personal, he ignores the fact that official circles see it as an open-and-shut case.
While the decision is still pending against Faiz Hameed—widely reported as a coauthor of the May 9 vandalism—Imran Khan calculates that he remains somewhat shielded in these cases. However, government officials insist his punishment is only a matter of time, a reality Khan himself seems to recognize, which explains his increasingly unrestrained outbursts.
Particularly alarming, according to official circles, are Khan’s “dangerous and ludicrous” allegations against the honorable judiciary. Such attacks, they stress, amount to contempt of court and must be addressed to protect the judiciary’s dignity and integrity.
Observers say there is little doubt that his vitriolic behavior reflects a defeated mindset. His party is fractured, his political standing has diminished, and even within his own ranks, his voice no longer carries weight.
Official sources went further, saying:
“His venomous and hateful personal attack on COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir serves only the bidding of India, a country still licking its wounds after facing historic defeat in Marka-e-Haq. Both Imran Khan Niazi and Narendra Modi fear nothing more than a thriving, successful Pakistan led by bold and courageous leadership. His recent tweet is nothing short of a slap in the face to all those who still mistakenly call him a leader. In truth, he is not even worthy of being called a gentleman.”
In his message on X, Niazi alleged that his two nephews had been “abducted” by the authorities, despite the fact that they had been officially and formally arrested by the government for their alleged involvement in the May 9 vandalism. He went on to claim that both of his nephews had no connection whatsoever with the May 9 riots. However, the government claim that available video footage of the violent incidents tells a different story, as it reportedly shows them actively present at the scenes of unrest, suggesting that they may indeed have participated in the vandalism. Niazi’s narrative, therefore, appears to contradict the documented evidence, raising questions about his attempt to portray the arrests as unlawful or politically motivated.
