Imran’s military trial not on the cards, govt tells IHC

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that former prime minister Imran Khan’s trial by military court is not under its consideration.

At the hearing for Mr. Khan’s case, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal made this declaration in front of the IHC bench, which also included Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

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The leader of the PTI who is now detained submitted an appeal to avoid a potential military trial in relation to accusations brought against him related to the violent protests on May 9.

Judge Aurangzeb, however, ordered the administration to provide a definitive answer by September 24 regarding the prospect of the ex-PM facing a military trial.

The judge questioned the AAG and retired Brigadier Falak Naz, the defense ministry’s law officer, over the process for trying a civilian in a military court.

Before starting court martial procedures, Mr. Naz notified the court that the relevant magistrate is alerted. He added that Section 2(1)(d) of the Pakistan Army Act permits a civilian to be tried by a military court for specific offenses.

Inquiring as to whether the accused received notice from the military authorities before the court martial proceedings, Justice Aurangzeb said that Mr. Khan’s petition might be dismissed if the court was certain that he would receive notice well in advance of his trial in a military court.

AAG Duggal stated that the defence ministry had not received any information regarding Mr. Khan’s military trial up to this point and that the former premier would be handled legally should military authorities request his trial. He did, however, notify the court that no decision had been made in this regard up to this point. The defense ministry has not yet made a judgment, so the court questioned Mr. Khan’s attorney on whether the plea was premature.

Attorney Uzair Bhandari stated that Barrister Aqeel Malik has already stated that the military court will try the former prime minister. He also drew the court’s attention to the director general of ISPR’s news conference, in which he alluded to Mr. Khan’s military trial without naming him. The administration was then asked for a definitive answer, and the court postponed the hearing until September 24.