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General Asim Munir, Pakistan‘s top military leader, is facing intense criticism from people across the country as he takes more control and makes decisions that many disagree with.

Jailing Former Prime Minister Sparks Outrage

The biggest reason for public anger is the jailing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Khan, who has millions of supporters, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges that many believe are false.

Reports suggest Munir was angry at Khan for removing him from his position as ISI chief years ago, and may have planned Khan’s downfall as revenge.

This crackdown has upset Khan’s massive support base, with many Pakistanis believing the military should not interfere in politics.

Gaining Unusual Powers

Munir has become what critics call “a king above all” by getting new laws passed that give him more power.

These laws extended his time as Army Chief from three to five years, gave him control over all military branches, and protected him from being charged with crimes for life.

The changes also put military leaders in charge of economic decisions through a new council, giving Munir control over Pakistan’s economy.

Retired generals have spoken out against these changes, saying they only help one person instead of making Pakistan’s defense stronger.

Bringing Religion Into The Military

Inside the military, soldiers have nicknamed him “Mullah Munir” because he often quotes religious texts during speeches and shows strong religious views.

Many military officers, especially younger ones and retired soldiers, are uncomfortable with him bringing religion into military culture, comparing him to the unpopular dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.

Failing To Stop Attacks

Even though Munir makes serious threats against India, he has failed to stop terrorist attacks in parts of Pakistan like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Critics say that while he focused on fighting with India, security inside Pakistan got worse, making the country less stable.

The combination of jailing political opponents, taking more power, pushing religion in the military, and failing to protect citizens has made Munir very unpopular since he became the Army Chief.

As Pakistan struggles with money problems and political unrest, many people are questioning whether the military should have so much control over the country.