No signs of Imran Khan's trial in military court, says UK foreign secretary

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said there is no hint the Pakistani government is going to try the jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in a military court. 

In response to a letter written by the British lawmakers, Lammy said the British government conveyed its concerns to the Pakistani government about ordinary citizens’ trial in military courts. 

On October 16 this year, 20 members of the British Parliament wrote a letter to their government urging it to stop Imran Khan’s possible trial in a military court. 

Responding to the British parliamentarians’ concerns, Lammy assured them that they are in touch with the highest Pakistani authorities on issues like the one highlighted in the letter.

He said that he too was concerned about restrictions on the freedom of expression and ban on the opposition party in Pakistan. 

Responding to the parliamentarians' concerns about the passage of the 26th constitutional amendment in Pakistan, Lammy said the legislation was done by the Pakistani parliament and it was Pakistan's internal matter.

He said the British government was clear about the point that only a free judiciary in a democracy can do accountability of other national institutions. 

The British foreign secretary said that he has asked a British minister, who oversees matters related to Pakistan, to take up the aforementioned points with the Pakistani government on his next visit to Pakistan.