Pakistan Army hints at military trial for jailed former PM Imran Khan
File photo of Imran Khan.
The Pakistan Army on Thursday (Sept 6) hinted at a military trial for former jailed prime minister Imran Khan. The army warned that using military personnel for personal or political gains invited legal action.
Addressing a press conference,Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, "Under military law, anyone who uses individuals subject to the Army Act for personal or political gain and evidence of such actions exists, will be subject to the law taking its course."
A report by Dawn said in response toa query about the potential military trial for Khan, Gen Chaudharyattempted to sidestep the question by stating that the matter was sub judice and the question by the media as hypothetical.
However, he simultaneously outlined the conditions under which a civilian could be tried under military law.
Section 2(d)(i) of the Army Act
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The Dawn report said that Chaudhary's commentappeared to be referencing Section 2(d)(i) of the Army Act, which extends the act’s purview to civilians who attempt to compromise the duty or allegiance of military personnel to the government.
The act also establishesa framework for military trials and outlines the offences and procedures relevant to service personnel.
A long-speculated military trial
Though Khan's military trial had been long speculated, rumours started circulating after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief sought intervention from the Islamabad High Court.
Khan’s plea was prompted by concerns that he might be implicated in the May 9 violence, for which FIRs were filed against him. His anxieties were heightened by the arrest and speculation that former spy chief Faiz Hameed might turn an approver against him.
In response to another question at the press conference, Chaudhry recalled an earlier military statement on Hameed's arrest,highlighting allegations that the former spy chief had contravened the Constitution and laws to advance the interests of certain political elements for personal gains.
When asked about the roles of former ISI chief Naveed Mukhtar and former army chief Qamar Bajwa in the elevation of Hameed and his subsequentappointment as the spy chief, Chaudhry passed the onus on to then-PM.
Dawn reported Chaudhry's assertion implied thatImran Khan got Hameed appointed to the top intelligence post.
(With inputs from agencies)