Exiled Retired Major Alleges Pakistan's Army Chief Seeking Totalitarian Control
Major (Retd) Adil Raja, a former officer of the Pakistan Army now residing in the United Kingdom, has leveled serious accusations against Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir. In an interview with India Today, Raja alleged that Munir is intentionally causing political instability in Pakistan to set the stage for his own presidency and to appoint his brother-in-law as prime minister.
Raja, who was court-martialed in absentia and sentenced to 14 years under Pakistan’s Official Secrets Act, accused Munir of pursuing absolute control. He compared Munir's alleged actions to the era of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, suggesting a similar push for accountability and control under the pretense of reform.
The allegations emerge in the context of a defamation lawsuit filed in the UK by Brigadier Rashid Nasir, the ISI’s Punjab sector commander. Raja described this legal action as a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), asserting that it is the military’s “backup plan” following the UK’s counterterrorism police clearing him of terrorism charges after a nine-month investigation.
Raja referred to the situation as “lawfare,” accusing Munir and DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik of taking advantage of the UK’s lenient libel laws to stifle criticism and conceal military misconduct, including judicial interference, corruption, and suppression of civil liberties. “The ISI is using all its power to silence this. They just don’t want any coverage because it exposes their soft belly,” he stated.
Additionally, Raja claimed that his family in Pakistan has faced retaliation. His mother is reportedly under effective house arrest with her passport revoked, and other family members have lost their travel rights. “My entire family’s nationalities have been blocked,” he said.
In a disturbing disclosure, Raja also mentioned that one of his case witnesses, Shahzad Akbar, was attacked with acid in the UK, an attack he believes was orchestrated by ISI-linked operatives. “This is more than legal pressure — it’s a campaign of intimidation,” he cautioned.
Raja maintained that his only ‘crime’ was revealing the military’s political influence over Pakistan, which includes alleged involvement in regime changes and judicial manipulation. “I committed the cardinal sin — I exposed the crimes of my own institution,” he remarked.
The allegations have heightened scrutiny of Pakistan’s civil-military relations, with many viewing them as indicative of a broader trend towards increasing authoritarianism under General Munir’s leadership.
