For several days, Pakistan has been consumed by intense speculation over the condition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Unverified reports alleging torture, severe injury, or even death have circulated widely, fuelled by the government’s refusal to present Khan in public or allow recent family and legal access—despite clear court directives.
This information blackout has collided with an unprecedented security build-up around the prison, intensifying public anxiety and raising questions about who truly holds power in Pakistan today.
Adiala Jail Under Extraordinary Security Alert
Adiala Jail has been placed under one of the strictest security alerts seen in recent years. Intelligence sources told News18 that the facility “could be attacked anytime.”
More than 2,500 additional personnel—police, paramilitary, and special units—have been deployed around the prison perimeter. New checkpoints have come up across the Dahgal area, along the multiple gates leading to Adiala, and across the Factory Naka and Gorakhpur belts of Rawalpindi.
Security forces are fully equipped with anti-riot gear, rubber and live ammunition, shields, batons, and tear-gas launchers. Simultaneously, similar alerts have been issued at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore and Mach Central Jail near Quetta, where other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders are detained.
These developments coincide with PTI’s nationwide protests planned outside Adiala Jail and the Islamabad High Court, as the public rallying cry—“Where is Imran Khan?”—continues to grow louder.
A New Power Structure: The Rise of Pakistan’s First Chief of Defence Forces
The crisis unfolds against a dramatic restructuring of Pakistan’s constitutional and military architecture.
On 27 November, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir formally assumed charge as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)—a powerful new post created by the 27th Amendment to the 1973 Constitution.
Passed at extraordinary speed, the amendment:
- Cleared the National Assembly on 12 November
- Passed the Senate the next day
- Was signed into law immediately by President Asif Ali Zardari
The amendment goes far beyond reassigning military titles. It fundamentally rewires Pakistan’s power hierarchy, concentrating unprecedented authority in the hands of the army chief—now constitutionally placed above the heads of the navy and air force.
What the 27th Amendment Changed
The amendment makes sweeping alterations to Pakistan’s defence and constitutional framework:
1. Creation of the Chief of Defence Forces
Article 243 has been revised to create the CDF—a new apex post automatically held by the serving army chief, placing him formally in command of all three services.
The previous Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee—a key tri-services coordinating role established in the 1970s—has been abolished.
2. Control of the Defence Apparatus
Authority over Pakistan’s tri-services structure shifts from the president and cabinet to the CDF, elevating the already dominant army chief to the highest constitutional position within the military.
3. Influence Over Nuclear Command
A new role, Commander of the National Strategic Command, will oversee Pakistan’s nuclear forces. Although the prime minister will formally appoint this officer, the choice must come from a pool of army generals and follow the advice of the CDF—giving the army chief decisive influence over nuclear command.
4. Lifetime Immunity for Five-Star Officers
Perhaps the most consequential provision is the sweeping immunity granted to officers elevated to five-star ranks, including Field Marshals:
- They retain rank, uniform, and privileges for life
- Removal is only possible through a process similar to impeachment, requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority
- They are protected from criminal prosecution or civil litigation for all acts performed in office unless Parliament first lifts that protection
These protections exceed those afforded to the president or prime minister under Article 248.
5. Restructuring of the Judiciary
The amendment establishes a new Federal Constitutional Court, which will now adjudicate on constitutional interpretation and federal-provincial disputes—roles previously held by the Supreme Court.
The head of this new court:
- outranks the Chief Justice of Pakistan in protocol
- serves until age 68 (three years longer than a Supreme Court judge)
Previous reforms had already restricted the Supreme Court’s authority, including its suo motu powers. Several judges have publicly accused the government of effectively “abolishing” the Supreme Court’s traditional role.
The cumulative effect is a judicial architecture far more closely aligned with the executive—and, by extension, the military establishment.
What Munir’s Five-Star Role Means
Asim Munir is now more than the army chief. He has:
- Been promoted to Field Marshal
- Assumed a guaranteed five-year term as CDF
- Been placed above all other service chiefs by constitutional design
- Obtained lifetime immunity for all official actions
His tenure, previously extended to 2027, now effectively resets and stretches to at least 2030—with the possibility of further renewal.
All high-command appointments, including the proposed Vice Chief of Army Staff, will be routed through Munir. Civilian discretion in defence matters is significantly curtailed.
Why This Matters for Imran Khan’s Fate
If custodial harm were to befall Imran Khan—Pakistan’s most popular opposition leader—it would ordinarily trigger investigations that extend up the security chain of command.
But under the 27th Amendment, the security chain ends at a figure who is effectively beyond reach.
Any attempt to hold Munir accountable would face three near-insurmountable barriers:
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Constitutional immunity for five-star officers, blocking criminal or civil proceedings
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A judiciary redesigned to limit challenges to military-influenced decisions
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A new Constitutional Court, shaped by the same political coalition that created Munir’s expanded role
In effect, the constitutional order has been reshaped to shield the military’s top leadership from legal or political repercussions—even in the event of an extreme political shock.
A Country in Suspense
As Adiala Jail remains under virtual lockdown and public concern grows over Khan’s well-being, Pakistan finds itself in a deeply altered constitutional landscape.
While the streets demand answers, the country’s power structure has already been rewritten to make one man—Field Marshal Asim Munir—almost untouchable.
The question dominating Pakistan today—“Where is Imran Khan?”—is inseparable from a larger one:
In the new Pakistan, where does true accountability lie?
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