Imran moves LHC to avoid ‘detention by army’, ensure civilian trial citing ‘court martial rumours’ – Pakistan

PTI founder Imran Khan on Thursday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to preempt his possible detention by the army amid “circulating rumours” that plans were underway to try him for the May 9 riots through a “court martial”.

The move comes as the LHC today hears Imran’s July 18 petition against his physical remand in 12 criminal cases related to the violent attacks last year that his supporters allegedly carried out to target military installations and state properties.

Countrywide protests erupted on May 9 last year after the paramilitary Rangers whisked away Imran from the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case. While protests against his arrest were underway, social media was flooded with footage of rioting and vandalism at various spots, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and General Headquarters, the army’s head office in Rawalpindi.

Thursday’s petition, filed by Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari and a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, requested that Imran “be retained in civilian hands and subject to the jurisdiction of civilian courts.”

“[…] Rumours started circulating that Petitioner No. 1 [Imran Khan] will be shifted to the custody of army authorities today (i.e. 25.7.2024) in connection with the very cases which form the subject matter of Writ Petition No. 45901 of 2024 and connected matters”, the petition read.

It added that Imran had just a few days ago expressed the apprehension — which was also widely reported in the media — that plans were “afoot to try him for the events of 9 May through a court martial”.

“It appears that the implementation of those plans has been accelerated because of the proceedings in the aforementioned case,” the petition added.

It also requested that the respondents — including the inspector-general of police Punjab, inspector-general Islamabad, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), among others — be “restrained from handing over the custody of [Imran] to army authorities.”

According to the petition, the LHC in its Wednesday hearing raised concerns about the legality of the action taken and orders passed against Imran, which
created “a sense of panic in the ranks of those who are desperate to keep him behind bars on one pretext or the other.”

The petition added that if the army detained Imran, it would be “a complete travesty of justice and due process”.

“It will be completely against the law declared by a 5-member bench of the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan.”