Imran’s military trial over May 9 violence ‘entirely possible’, says PM aide

KARACHI: Gover­n­m­ent spokesperson for legal affairs Barrister Aqeel Malik has hinted that incarcerated PTI fo­u­nder Imran Khan’s cases concerning the violence on May 9 last year might go to military co­urts, Dawn.com reported.
In an interview on DawnNewsTV programme Doosra Rukh on Friday, Barrister Malik was asked whether he thought Imran Khan could be trialled in a military court following the arrest of former ISI chief retired Gen Faiz Hameed to which he said: “Yes absolutely.”
He said the events and vandalism seen on May 9 invited the application of the Army Act since military installations were attacked and damaged. He alleged that the PTI founder had orchestrated and “properly operated” the riots that took place last year.
“This was premeditated. This was preplanned,” Mr Malik said.
Regarding military courts, the prime minister’s adviser further said that “it is entirely possible that Imran Khan’s trial is held in a military court and the reason for that is because the Army Act will be applicable.”
He said a lot of people were saying that any conviction by a military court could be appealed at the high court, but, he explained, neither the high court nor the Supreme Court could entertain it.
“According to legal provisions, the appeal for the case would be taken by the military court of appeals,” Barrister Malik explained.
He said that once the options of appeals were exhausted, then only the mercy appeal could be submitted to the army chief or the president as a last resort.
Imran Khan previously claimed that there is a plan to try him in the military court. He said Gen Hameed was being forced to turn approver against him to pave the way for his trial in a military court over May 9 cases.
Countrywide protests erupted on May 9 last year after the paramilitary Rangers whisked away Mr Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a corruption 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 of office in Rawalpindi.
Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024