Imran Khan approaches IHC seeking protection from military trial

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Tuesday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking protection from military trial in May 9 riot cases.

A petition submitted by Imran Khan’s lawyer, Uzair Bhandari, named the Law Secretary, the Interior Secretary, and the federal government as respondents.

The Inspector General of Islamabad Police, the Inspector General of Punjab Police, the Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Inspector General of jail were also added as the respondents in the petition.

The former prime minister requested the IHC to prevent him from being tried in the military court and handing over to the army in the May 9 vadalism cases. 

The petition also urged the court to order that Imran Khan remain in civilian custody and he would try under the jurisdiction of a civilian court.

Earlier on September 1, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hinted that the PTI founder was likely to be tried in the military court. 

Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9, 2023, triggered violent protests across the country, in which several military and civil installations were vandalised by PTI workers.

The violent protests caused damage estimated at Rs1.9 billion, according to the government.

Following the riots, the crackdown was launched on the PTI to detain the suspect involved in the vandalism with the country’s top civil-military leadership vowing to try rioters under relevant laws of the country, including the Army Act.