- September 8, 2024
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan likely to face military trial, says defence minister Khawaja Asif – Times of India
Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, has indicated that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will likely face a military trial as legal challenges continue to mount against him. Speaking to a private news channel Geo News, Asif said, “Evidence against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) points towards military trial.”
Imran Khan has been embroiled in numerous legal cases, including one related to the May 9 riots, where military installations were attacked.Fearing prosecution in a military court, Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking to halt the trial. However, the IHC raised concerns about the petition’s validity, citing the absence of a specific first information report (FIR) or supporting documentation.
Khan’s petition comes amid ongoing legal debates. In December 2023, Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in a 5:1 majority ruling, suspended an earlier decision that declared civilians’ military trials unlawful. This ruling, tied to the May 9 riots, has left the final decision on military trials pending the court’s verdict on intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments and the defence ministry.
Asif also commented on former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, who he claimed aspired to become Pakistan’s army chief. Asif alleged that Faiz had reached out to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seeking support for his bid, offering loyalty in exchange. Faiz, currently facing allegations of land grabbing, was arrested by the army in August.
“General (retd) Faiz wanted to become army chief, his name was on the list. He contacted the PML-N leadership in this regard and assured of his loyalty against support for his bid for army chief,” said Asif.
He further noted that Faiz’s frustrations grew after the appointment of the current army chief. Asif suggested that Faiz may now try to deflect blame onto others, adding, “He [Faiz] might say that even if he was part of the conspiracy then the objectives [of conspiracy] were of the PTI founder’s and not his.”
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who is currently detained in Adiala Jail, has warned of protests if the government undermines the judiciary’s independence. In a message shared on social media, Khan said, “Pakistan’s army belongs to everyone – to the whole nation – not just one political party or the army chief. They robbed the election and are now not allowing the judiciary to function independently.”
Khan also criticised the treatment of Pakistan’s current leadership in prison, claiming they enjoyed preferential conditions compared to him. “I have not spent a single day at the prison hospital,” he said, contrasting his treatment with that of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and others, who, according to him, had access to air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms during their time in custody.
Imran Khan has been embroiled in numerous legal cases, including one related to the May 9 riots, where military installations were attacked.Fearing prosecution in a military court, Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking to halt the trial. However, the IHC raised concerns about the petition’s validity, citing the absence of a specific first information report (FIR) or supporting documentation.
Khan’s petition comes amid ongoing legal debates. In December 2023, Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in a 5:1 majority ruling, suspended an earlier decision that declared civilians’ military trials unlawful. This ruling, tied to the May 9 riots, has left the final decision on military trials pending the court’s verdict on intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments and the defence ministry.
Asif also commented on former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, who he claimed aspired to become Pakistan’s army chief. Asif alleged that Faiz had reached out to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seeking support for his bid, offering loyalty in exchange. Faiz, currently facing allegations of land grabbing, was arrested by the army in August.
“General (retd) Faiz wanted to become army chief, his name was on the list. He contacted the PML-N leadership in this regard and assured of his loyalty against support for his bid for army chief,” said Asif.
He further noted that Faiz’s frustrations grew after the appointment of the current army chief. Asif suggested that Faiz may now try to deflect blame onto others, adding, “He [Faiz] might say that even if he was part of the conspiracy then the objectives [of conspiracy] were of the PTI founder’s and not his.”
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who is currently detained in Adiala Jail, has warned of protests if the government undermines the judiciary’s independence. In a message shared on social media, Khan said, “Pakistan’s army belongs to everyone – to the whole nation – not just one political party or the army chief. They robbed the election and are now not allowing the judiciary to function independently.”
Khan also criticised the treatment of Pakistan’s current leadership in prison, claiming they enjoyed preferential conditions compared to him. “I have not spent a single day at the prison hospital,” he said, contrasting his treatment with that of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and others, who, according to him, had access to air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms during their time in custody.
