Asim Munir Eyes Presidency; Plans To Hand PM Post To Relative, Claims Former Major

International News: Asim Munir: Pakistan's politics is once again in the news over allegations of military interference. This time the allegations are against the country's current army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Former Pakistani army major and now whistleblower Major (retired) Adil Raja has made serious allegations against Asim Munir and said that he wants to make himself the president and hand over the prime minister's chair to his relative.

Raja claimed that Munir wants to take complete control of Pakistan's already weak democracy. He also said that the army chief plans to take control of both the judiciary and politics by gaining complete control over power.

Adil Raja’s Explosive Claim On Munir

In an interview, Major Adil Raja said that Asim Munir first declared himself a field marshal and now is planning to become the president. He said, "Allegedly this plan is of Army Chief Asim Munir. He wants to make his relative the prime minister and himself or some other general the president." According to Raja, Munir wants to gain complete control over power by spreading anarchy in the country, and for this he is trying to weaken every democratic institution.

Relations with Zardari deteriorated

Raja said that Asim Munir's relations with the current President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, are not normal. Due to this, he himself is planning to become the president so that any kind of disagreement can be rooted out.

Disclosed before trial in Britain

Raja made the allegations a few days before a defamation trial began in London on July 21. He said, "This is part of the legal battle launched against me by the Pakistani military establishment and its intelligence agency, ISI." ISI's Punjab sector commander Brigadier Rashid Nasir has filed a defamation case against Raja in Britain. Raja has said that the motive behind this is an attempt to silence him.

ISI accused of misusing UK laws

Raja said the Pakistani military and the ISI were abusing Britain's liberal defamation laws to suppress dissent and cover up the military's crimes. "The ISI is doing everything in its power to suppress this. They just don't want any coverage because it exposes their weaknesses," he said. Raja revealed that his family is facing dire consequences in Pakistan.

His mother has been put under house arrest, and her passport has been cancelled so that she cannot go back. Raja also said that he was under investigation by Britain's anti-terrorism police for nine months, but he was eventually acquitted.

Court martial and sentence of 14 years

Raja was court-martialed in absentia and sentenced to 14 years in prison under Pakistan's Official Secrets Act. He says his only crime was exposing the military's interference in politics. "I was committing the biggest sin, exposing the crimes of my own institution," he said.