,
Avoid the company of sycophants whose flattery serves only their personal interests. Their narrow, self-serving mindset is weakening not only the institution but also Pakistan itself. These advisors, after every failure, encourage the use of more force. However, the continuous and blind use of force has eroded the fear it once commanded, turning it into a cycle of oppression and brutality with diminishing results.
As a student of history and politics, I must remind you that similar advisors led to General Musharraf’s downfall. Musharraf, once comfortably seated in the presidency, sought to remain in uniform for life. His advisors frightened him into believing that the Supreme Court would not allow this, prompting him to take a disastrous decision out of fear: the imposition of emergency on November 3, 2007, and an attack on the judiciary. This marked the beginning of his downfall as everything collapsed around him. He faced arrest, trial for violating the constitution, and a death sentence. Musharraf ended his days in exile, living miserably in a two-room apartment, far from the power he once wielded. His advisors, who pushed him to such measures, fled, leaving him to suffer alone.
Had General Musharraf not imposed an emergency and attacked the judiciary, his exit could have been more honourable and peaceful. Instead, his actions widened the rift between the military and the public, creating a mountain of hatred that took over 12 years of painstaking effort to heal. In his era, military officers were so wary of public perception that they stopped wearing uniforms in public and used private license plates on official vehicles. The painstaking efforts to restore the bond between the public and the military were undone by General Bajwa’s policies and the “Power Doctrine” that you continue, deepening the divide between the people and the military.
The new generation of Pakistanis, unfamiliar with the past, witnessed the oppressive power of the military, security, and intelligence agencies for the first time. Mothers, sisters, daughters, and elderly parents were dragged from their homes, humiliated, and dishonored. Their scarves were ripped off, their clothes torn apart, and videos of these abuses circulated widely. Political opponents were subjected to mass imprisonment, with charges of sedition and treason brought against them. Rather than restoring order, these actions only fuelled greater hatred towards the military.
In the past, the public revered the military, considering it a guarantor of security and peace. People willingly vacated their homes and lands, trusting the military’s intentions as protectors of Pakistan’s interests. However, under your leadership, this sacred bond has been shattered. The power doctrine you have carried forward has destroyed the military’s image, reopening old wounds and undoing decades of goodwill.
General Asim Munir, your legacy of cruelty paints you as an occupier rather than a protector of your people. Your policies have left deep scars on the nation. Thousands of innocent civilians have been labelled traitors and jailed, fuelling a reign of terror that reflects your relentless desire for control.
These actions have eroded the public’s trust in the military, transforming the army from a protector to an enforcer of oppression. The people no longer see the military as a source of security but as a tool of suppression. Your power doctrine has done irreparable damage to the relationship between the military and the public, and this is no longer an issue solely concerning Imran Khan. The policies of the last two and a half years have made this a national crisis.
This brutal legacy, which you continue to build, echoes that of General Musharraf, who, under bad advice, made decisions that ultimately led to his destruction. If you truly believe that power and authority come from Allah, as I’m sure you do, then rise above earthly fears and think with complete faith about the future of Pakistan and its people. The military cannot continue to serve personal or political interests. It must return to its role as a national institution, loved and respected by the people, not feared.
The power doctrine of General Bajwa and General Nadeem Anjum is dead. They are gone, and their oppressive ideology should die with them. It is now up to you to review the situation and lead the military and ISI from a power doctrine to a doctrine of love. Learn from the wisdom of your ancestors and pull Pakistan’s people and the military out of this quagmire.
Lastly, and most importantly, reveal the killers of martyr Arshad Sharif. Only through such measures can you begin to heal the deep wounds inflicted on this nation.
Pakistan Zindabad.
