General Munir’s Dictatorship Blueprint? Ex-Major Raja Alleges ISI-Backed Repression
Explosive Allegations Rock Pakistan Army: Ex-Major Adil Raja Accuses Gen Asim Munir of Power Grab, Orchestrated Chaos
London/Islamabad: In a stunning revelation that has sent ripples through Pakistan’s power corridors, former Pakistani Army officer-turned-whistleblower Major (Retd) Adil Raja has levelled explosive allegations against Pakistan’s powerful Army Chief, General Asim Munir, accusing him of dismantling democracy and plotting a full-scale authoritarian takeover.
Speaking to India Today ahead of a high-stakes libel trial in London, Raja alleged that General Munir is executing a secret plan to cement military dominance in Pakistan by promoting political puppets and silencing dissenting voices — both at home and abroad.
“General Munir wants total control — a Musharraf 2.0 strategy,” Raja claimed. “He plans to install his brother-in-law as Prime Minister and either himself or another general as President under the guise of an anti-corruption crusade.”
Raja, who now lives in exile in the UK, said that these alleged moves mirror the tactics of former dictator General Pervez Musharraf, under whom the military ruled with an iron grip while projecting a façade of accountability.
‘Lawfare’ and Libel: ISI Using British Courts as Battleground
The whistleblower accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, of launching a coordinated campaign of legal intimidation, including a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) filed in the UK by Brigadier Rashid Nasir — ISI’s former Punjab sector chief.
“They couldn’t get me through counterterrorism probes, so now they’re exploiting the UK’s libel laws,” Raja said. “Britain has become the global hub for ‘libel tourism’ — and the ISI knows it.”
He further alleged that UK counterterrorism authorities had investigated him for nine months over alleged terrorism links — only to fully exonerate him. The ongoing defamation suit, he claimed, is a “backup plan” by the Pakistani military to gag him permanently.
Family Under Pressure: Passports Revoked, Acid Attacks Alleged
Raja painted a grim picture of reprisal, claiming his family in Pakistan has been targeted in retaliation. His mother, he said, has been placed under a “de facto house arrest,” with her passport revoked to prevent him from returning home.
“My entire family has been effectively grounded. Their passports have been blacklisted, their freedom restricted,” Raja lamented.
He also dropped a bombshell by revealing that Shahzad Akbar, a key witness in his defence, was attacked with acid in the UK — an act Raja squarely blamed on the ISI.
“They are using every intimidation tactic. Acid attacks, surveillance, threats. They’re desperate to bury the truth.”
Court-Martialed in Absentia, Defiant in Exile
Earlier this year, Raja was sentenced to 14 years in prison under Pakistan’s Official Secrets Act via a court-martial held in absentia — a move widely condemned by international watchdogs. He insists the charges are politically motivated.
“My only crime is that I told the truth — about how the military hijacks Pakistan’s politics, manipulates the judiciary, and tramples civil liberties,” he declared.
Raja also named the current ISI Director General Lt Gen Asim Malik, accusing him of spearheading the clampdown on dissidents abroad.
