ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought clarity from the federal government regarding the possibility of a military trial for incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan in the May 9 cases.
Imran had previously claimed that there was a plan to try him in a military court over countrywide protests that erupted last year after his arrest in a graft case.He had also said that arrested former intelligence chief Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed was being forced to turn approver against him to pave the way for his trial in a military court in May 9 cases.
Officials of the federal and the PML-N-ruled Punjab government have issued contradictory statements on whether the process to hold the former premier’s military trial was under way.
A recent statement by military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also hinted at the possibility of Imran’s military trial as “under military law, anyone who uses individuals subject to the Army Act for personal or political gain […] will be subject to the law taking its course”.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb took up today Imran’s petition to pre-empt such a scenario.The petition had been filed last week under Article 199 of the Constitution, according to which a high court may take up a matter when “no other adequate remedy is provided by law”.
Advocate Ali Uzair Bhandari appeared as Imran’s counsel, while Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Azmat Bashir Tarrar was present as the state counsel on behalf of Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan.
Seeking clarification from the federal government on whether Imran’s military trial was under consideration, Justice Aurangzeb adjourned the hearing till September 16.Countrywide protests erupted on May 9 last year after the paramilitary Rangers whisked away Imran from the IHC in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
While the protests were underway, social media was flooded with footage of rioting and vandalism at various spots, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and General Headquarters, the army’s head office in Rawalpindi.
The already imprisoned PTI founder was “arrested” in related cases on July 14 — just a day after he and his wife Bushra Bibi had been apprehended in a new Toshakhana case, following their acquittal in the Iddat case.
