ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Tuesday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop his potential military trial in connection with the May 9 cases.
The plea filed under Article 199 of the Constitution comes amid speculations about a military trial of the deposed prime minister trial in a military court. Last week, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that if needed, the Punjab government would decide to refer the PTI founder’s case to a military court. “The prosecution of May 9 cases is being done by the Punjab government and the provincial government will decide to refer the case to a military court,” The News quoted him as saying in an informal talk with media persons on August 29. Similarly, responding to the PTI founder’s demand for an “open trial” of ex-spymaster General (retd) Faiz Hamid last month, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hinted at the possibility of the deposed prime minister’s trial in a military court for the May 9 riots. Violent protests broke out across the country after the cricketer-turned-politician was arrested from the premises of IHC in a graft case on May 9, 2023. Amid the protests, the alleged PTI supporters vandalised military installations including General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and engaged in arson at the Lahore Corps Commander House.