As legal challenges mount for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has indicated that a military trial for the former prime minister is becoming increasingly inevitable. Speaking to a private news channel on Saturday, Asif emphasized that the evidence against Khan is pointing towards a military trial, particularly in light of his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots of last year. The riots, which targeted military installations, have placed Khan under severe scrutiny, with legal experts and government officials suggesting that military courts may handle his case.
“Evidence against the PTI founder clearly leads to the likelihood of a military trial,” Asif stated. He added that military trials have occurred in the past and will continue when necessary, especially in cases involving attacks on military institutions. The defence minister’s comments come at a critical time as speculation about Khan’s potential military trial has been growing for months.
Imran Khan Files Petition Against Military Trial
In response to these developments, Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking to prevent his trial in a military court. The petition, submitted under Article 199 of the Constitution, aims to halt any such proceedings, citing concerns about the legality and fairness of military trials for civilians. Khan’s fears of facing a military court are tied to accusations of his involvement in the May 9 riots, where several military installations were attacked by protesters.
However, Khan’s petition faced immediate obstacles. The IHC registrar’s office raised objections, noting that the petition did not specify any first information report (FIR) or include any supporting documents. Additionally, the matter of military trials is already under consideration by the Supreme Court, raising further legal complications for Khan’s case.
Despite these challenges, Khan’s legal team remains adamant that the former prime minister should not face a military trial. PTI leaders have consistently denied the possibility of such proceedings against Khan, arguing that the accusations lack merit.
Supreme Court’s Role in Military Trial Debate
The question of civilian trials in military courts has been a contentious issue. In December 2023, the Supreme Court, in a 5:1 majority ruling, suspended an earlier order from October 2023, which had declared civilian trials in military courts unconstitutional. The December verdict, however, allowed military trials to proceed conditionally, pending the Supreme Court’s final ruling on appeals from the federal and provincial governments, as well as the defence ministry.
Khawaja Asif, while commenting on the ongoing legal process, stressed that the investigation into Khan’s involvement in the riots remains confidential. He reiterated that Khan’s protests outside military installations during the May 9 riots raised serious questions. “Why were military installations specifically targeted during these protests?” Asif asked, implying that Khan had directed the attacks.
Asif’s Comments on General Faiz Hamid
Shifting focus, the defence minister also spoke about former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, who has been arrested over allegations of land grabbing. Asif claimed that Hamid had ambitions to become army chief and had approached the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership for support. According to Asif, Faiz Hamid had offered guarantees of loyalty in exchange for backing his bid for the top military post.
“General (retd) Faiz was aggrieved by the loss of power, much like Imran Khan,” Asif remarked. He suggested that Faiz’s close relationship with Khan played a role in their mutual political downfall, as both men failed in their attempts to influence the military after losing power.
Asif concluded by stating that both Khan and Faiz tried to take over the country after their political defeat but ultimately failed to generate an internal uprising within the military.
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