Imran Khan May Avoid Military Confrontation If Freed, Aide Says
Imran Khan may avoid confrontation with Pakistan’s military if freed, his aide Zulfikar Bukhari says, as PTI plans a nationwide march on September 27.
Raja Awais Ali
8/20/20264 min read
Imran Khan May Avoid Military Confrontation If Freed, Close Aide Says
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan would not confront the military or Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir if he were released from prison, according to one of his closest aides, signaling a possible change in tone from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) toward the country’s powerful military leadership. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari told Reuters that if Khan were released, he would not take any action that could damage Pakistan and would be willing to put personal pain and political differences aside for the wider interest of the country.
Bukhari’s comments came after Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to transfer the 73-year-old former prime minister from prison to a private hospital for medical treatment. The court’s decision has raised hopes among some analysts that tensions between Khan, PTI and the state could begin to ease, although there is no indication yet that formal political negotiations have started.
The remarks are significant because PTI supporters have for years strongly criticized Asim Munir, whom they regard as a central figure in the political conflict surrounding Khan. Khan himself has previously made harsh statements about the army chief. Bukhari’s latest comments, however, suggest that the party may be prepared to avoid further confrontation with the military if Khan is released and a path toward political engagement becomes possible.
Bukhari said that a released Khan would not do anything that could effectively damage the country. He described Khan as magnanimous and said political leaders sometimes have to control their personal hurt and accept their own pain for the betterment of the country. He also stressed that avoiding confrontation with the military leadership would not necessarily mean abandoning PTI’s political position.
The Pakistani government and military did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on Bukhari’s remarks. The military has previously maintained that it does not interfere in politics, while the government has said that Khan’s legal cases are matters for the courts.
The Supreme Court ordered authorities on Tuesday to transfer Khan from prison to a private hospital within 48 hours. The decision followed concerns over his health and was widely viewed by analysts as a possible step toward lowering political tensions, even if only temporarily. Bukhari described the ruling as a new ray of hope and said PTI would comply with the court’s instruction that its workers and leaders should not gather outside the hospital.
By Thursday afternoon, however, Khan had still not been transferred, and uncertainty remained over whether the government would seek another legal challenge to the decision. The situation has added another layer to the already complicated relationship between Khan, the government, the courts and the military establishment.
Bukhari said there were currently no talks between PTI and the military, but he described Asim Munir, who also holds the rank of field marshal, as Pakistan’s most powerful man. He suggested that a change in approach from the military leadership could significantly alter the political situation and could potentially lead to the release of political prisoners.
Despite Bukhari’s conciliatory comments, analysts have cautioned that the views of PTI leaders outside prison may not necessarily match Khan’s own position. Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said it remained unclear whether PTI leaders who have avoided arrest had enough capacity to present a united position in any possible engagement or negotiation with the state.
The question is important because much of PTI’s political structure has been weakened by arrests and legal pressure, while several senior party figures remain in prison and others have gone into hiding or left the country. Bukhari himself has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai and said that senior PTI leaders had not spoken directly with Khan for around eight months.
Khan’s own previous statements also show how difficult any political reconciliation could be. In comments attributed to him last November, he described Asim Munir in highly critical terms, accused him of subjecting him and his wife to severe treatment and said he would not bow to pressure. Because Khan has not recently made public comments confirming a change in his position, it remains unclear whether the latest softer language reflects his personal thinking or a strategic shift in the messaging of PTI leaders.
Khan has remained in prison since his political and legal battles intensified after he lost power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. He has faced numerous legal cases involving state gifts, allegations connected to violent attacks on military and state installations and an accusation related to an unlawful marriage. He denies wrongdoing and has repeatedly rejected the cases against him. Several convictions have been suspended or overturned, while appeals in other cases remain pending.
At the same time, PTI has not abandoned its plans for political protest. Bukhari said the party would proceed with a nationwide march on September 27 regardless of whether Khan is transferred to hospital. The protest is expected to demand implementation of the court-ordered treatment, access for Khan’s family, doctors, lawyers and party leadership, prompt hearings in his cases and ultimately his release.
Bukhari also said that senior PTI leaders who have gone into hiding could participate in the political mobilization or help organize the nationwide protest. He suggested that some leaders may return to public view, while others could remain out of sight but continue helping the party mobilize supporters.
The latest developments therefore present two different but connected aspects of PTI’s strategy. On one side, the party is signaling that it does not want Khan to enter another direct confrontation with the military if he is released. On the other, it continues to demand his release, greater access to him and progress in his legal cases while preparing for a nationwide protest on September 27.
The next stage will depend largely on whether Khan is transferred to hospital, how his medical treatment proceeds, what happens to his pending legal cases and whether PTI can organize its planned nationwide march. There is currently no confirmation of direct talks between PTI and the military, and no public statement from Khan confirming that he has changed his position toward the army leadership.
For now, Bukhari’s comments represent one of the clearest recent indications that PTI may be willing to reduce direct political confrontation with the military if circumstances allow Khan to return to active politics. Whether this becomes a genuine political reconciliation or remains a temporary change in tone will depend on developments surrounding Khan’s health, legal status, possible release and the response of the state. The September 27 march could also become an important test of PTI’s ability to mobilize supporters while maintaining its new, more cautious approach toward the military leadership.
Stay informed with the latest national and international news.
© 2026. All rights reserved.