The Islamabad High Court will today hear the petition filed by Imran Khan. Against the possibility of being handed over to the military for trial on the May 9 riots. The former Pakistan Prime Minister had filed the plea under Article 199 of the Constitution on September 3. The court fixed the hearing despite objecting by the registrar’s office of IHC.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC will hear the plea. The registrar’s office had earlier objected to the plea because it was not specific, citing the lack of a first information report (FIR) and record. Moreover, the registrar also pointed out that it was not appropriate to file the petition in the high court. When the issue of military trials is already sub judice in the Supreme Court.
Speculation on the military trial of Khan had picked up momentum since statements started pouring in from key figures. “Evidence against Imran Khan suggested that there was a likelihood of a military trial”, said Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Asif told a private news channel, “With each passing day, the evidence increasingly suggests that he will face a military trial.”
That same month, Khawaja Asif appeared on Geo News’ “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”. And stated that military courts would hold Khan’s trial openly if it moved to those courts. Asif says no open trial is possible for military personnel. It came a day after Khan sought a public trial of the former chief of the spy agency ISI Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid. Arrested by the military in August on charges of abusing authority and violations of the Army Act.
While this was going on, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar chipped in to say that the Punjab government may refer Khan’s case to a military court when it feels so. Tarar told this in an informal discussion with the media on 29th August,
On December 2023, the Supreme Court stayed its earlier October 23, 2023, order which had invalidated civilian trials related to the May 9 riots. Following intra-court appeals by federal and provincial governments and the defense ministry. The Supreme Court said military trials would go ahead based on the apex court’s final verdict on these appeals.
As the IHC resumes its hearing, all eyes shall remain on how the court decides on the petition filed by Imran Khan. Amidst a lot of legal and political development in the country.
ANI