The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday requested clarity from the federal government regarding the potential for a military trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in connection with the May 9 cases. Imran Khan had previously claimed that there were plans to prosecute him in a military court over the nationwide protests that followed his arrest last year in a graft case.
Imran also alleged that former intelligence chief Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed was being pressured to testify against him to facilitate a military trial. Conflicting statements from federal and Punjab government officials have created uncertainty about whether such a trial is in progress.
A recent statement by military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry suggested the possibility of a military trial, stating that anyone who uses individuals subject to the Army Act for personal or political gain would be subject to military law.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb addressed Imran’s petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, which allows the court to intervene when no other legal remedy is available. Imran’s counsel, Advocate Ali Uzair Bhandari, and Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Azmat Bashir Tarrar represented the parties.
During the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb questioned whether Imran’s potential military trial was under consideration. He noted that conflicting statements from top officials and military leaders had not yet been clarified. The judge emphasized the concern over military trials for civilians, particularly in light of a Supreme Court ruling from October 2023 that declared such trials null and void, though this ruling was later suspended.
The court has ordered AAG Tarrar to obtain a clear stance from the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan by September 16. The hearing was adjourned until that date to await the federal government’s response.
