The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought a clarification from the federal government on an application for stopping the potential military arrest and trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb conducted the hearing, during which he addressed the objections raised on a petition seeking to prevent any military trial of Imran Khan. The court also dismissed the objections, and sought an official response from the attorney general's office.
"You're saying that there is no case yet, but there may be one?" the judge asked Imran Khan's lawyer, to which counsel Uzair Bhandari replied they had a concern about it.
Justice Aurangzeb said this was politics, on which the PTI lawyer said the DG had given a statement in this regard. The judge said that was also politics, to which Bhandari said senior government and military officials had made statements to this effect.
The Islamabad High Court sought an explanation from the federal government by September 16 on whether there will be a military trial of Imran Khan or not. Justice Aurangzeb remarked that the military trial of a civilian is a cause of concern for the court.
The government should present a clear answer if the matter is even being considered because if not then the petition would become ineffective. Justice Aurangzeb remarked that federal ministers had threatened with a military trial of the high-profile petitioner, who was a common citizen.
According to the petitioner's lawyer, the ISPR chief had also made a statement in this regard. To this, the judge said if there is such a possibility, the federal government should make it clear. "Today, if we say there is nothing yet and tomorrow if you produce a notice for a military trial, what will happen?" the judge remarked and told the government lawyer to get instructions from the federation and inform the court clearly on Monday.
The additional attorney general requested the court to first decide on the objections to the petition. At this, the judge remarked that he was removing the registrar office's objections.
Justice Aurangzeb referred to the Supreme Court's past judgements regarding the trial of civilians in military courts and emphasized that such a trial must be carefully scrutinized. He directed the federal government to provide a clear response by September 16, warning that if no military trial is planned, the petition would be rendered ineffective. However, if the government is considering such action, the court will proceed with a full hearing on the matter.
Last month, while talking to reporters in Adiala Jail, Imran Khan had claimed that he feared former ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed would be turned into an approver against him and a favourable statement recorded from him to send his case to a military court.
A few days ago, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had also hinted while talking to a television channel that the evidence was going towards the military trial of Imran Khan.
