ISLAMABAD: Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against his ‘possible’ arrest by the army and subsequent military trial in relation to riots last year in which his followers were allegedly involved, the ex-premier’s party said on Tuesday.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after his brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many continue to remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
Last month, the army arrested retired general Faiz Hameed, former head of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, who was widely believed to be close to Khan when he was PM from 2018-2022. Other than charges relating to a land development case, the military also said “multiple instances” of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement had been found against Hameed, in what was widely seen as a veiled reference to his continued support for Khan and his party, including in planning the May 9 riots. Defense Minisyer Khawaja Asif has even referred to Hameed as a “strategic adviser” to the PTI during the violence.
“Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has filed a petition at IHC, against the possible military custody and military court trial citing the May 9 incident,” the PTI said in a statement to media.
“He’s been very clear about disassociating himself from the incident or that of anyone from the party, repeatedly asking for a judicial commission to launch a transparent investigation, so the real culprits that plotted it, could be brought to justice.”
In his petition, Khan referred to Hameed’s arrest and to widespread media reports and speculation that the former spy chief would “be made an approver against the petitioner [Khan] in cases pertaining to May 9 and 10, 2023 and the petitioner will be transferred to military custody on this basis.”
Khan also referred to a statement made by the federal government’s spokesman for legal affairs, Aqeel Malik, on a TV show on Aug 23 in which he said the ex-premier should “absolutely” be tried in a military court, and that provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, were applicable to him. He also referred to a statement issued by federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar that it would be the Punjab government’s prerogative to decide whether or not to refer the May 9 cases against the ex-premier to a military court.
Khan and the PTI say the May riots have been used as a ruse by political rivals and the military to crack down on the party, which is arguably the most popular in Pakistan. Khan has also been indicted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law in connection with the violence. A section of Pakistan’s 1997 anti-terrorism act prescribes the death penalty as maximum punishment. Khan has denied the charges under the anti-terrorism law, saying he was in detention when the violence took place.
Khan has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges that he says are politically motivated to keep him out of power and suppress the popularity of the PTI. He was convicted in four cases since he was first taken into custody, all of which have been either suspended or overturned by the courts. Khan remains in jail, however, on new charges brought by the national accountability watchdog regarding the illegal sale of gifts from a state repository while he was prime minister.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan moves court against military trial in connection with May 9 riots
https://arab.news/55vv5
Pakistan’s Imran Khan moves court against military trial in connection with May 9 riots
- Ex-PM fears arrested former spy chief will be made an approver in May 9 cases and Khan transferred to military custody
- Khan, in jail since August 2023, has been indicted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law in connection with the violence last year
Crowds worldwide rage or celebrate after Iran strikes, 23 killed in Pakistan
- At least 10 were killed in Karachi, 11 in northern city of Skardu and two in Islamabad during violent clashes between protesters and law enforcers
- In other parts of the world, such as Paris, Iranian exiles take to the streets to celebrate the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
KARACHI, Pakistan/BAGHDAD: Demonstrations against the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran turned violent in Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday, while in other parts of the world Iranian exiles took to the streets to celebrate the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At least 23 protesters were killed in clashes in Pakistan, including 10 in the port of Karachi where security guards at the US consulate fired on demonstrators who breached the outer wall, 11 in the northern city of Skardu where the crowd torched a UN office, and two in Islamabad.
In Iraq, police fired tear gas and stun grenades to scatter hundreds of pro-Iranian protesters who had gathered outside the Green Zone diplomatic compound in the capital Baghdad, where the US embassy is located.
But in Paris, a joyous crowd of thousands turned out to celebrate, waving flags of Iran’s pre-revolutionary monarchy, some carrying red roses and bottles of champagne.
Iran’s neighbors to the east and west, Pakistan and Iraq have the world’s largest Shia Muslim populations after Iran, and were the scenes of some of the worst unrest from crowds angry at the US-Israeli attacks.
Protesters in Karachi chanted “Death to America! Death to Israel!” at the consulate, where Reuters reporters heard gunfire and saw tear gas fired in surrounding streets.
Consulate security staff opened fire at a crowd who were pushed back after breaching the outer security layer, said Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, a local government spokesman. The demonstrators also set a vehicle ablaze outside the main gate and clashed with police, he said.
“We are in constant touch with consulate officials. They are all safe,” Hemnani added.
The US Embassy in Islamabad said in a post on X it was monitoring reports of demonstrations and advised US citizens to observe good personal security practices. The consulate in Karachi and embassy in Islamabad did not respond to Reuters requests for further comment.
Thirty-four people were injured, police said. Karachi’s Civil Hospital said all those killed and injured were hit with gunshots. The provincial government of Sindh ordered an inquiry.
UN OFFICE SET ON FIRE
Skardu, where the UN building was set ablaze, is in Gilgit Baltistan in the north, the only region administered by Pakistan where Shias are the plurality.
“A large number of protesters have gathered outside the UN office and burned down the building,” local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told Reuters. The figure of 11 killed was provided by a government official and an intelligence official, both on condition of anonymity.
Protesters also took to the streets in other parts of Pakistan, carrying black flags and chanting “Down with America!” and anti-Israel slogans. In the central city of Lahore, police said hundreds gathered outside the US consulate. There were some small-scale clashes with police, who fired tear gas.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged protesters to remain peaceful. “We stand with you,” he said, adding that every Pakistani was as grief-stricken as the people of Iran.
In the capital Islamabad, all roads leading to the Red Zone, which houses diplomatic missions were blocked to traffic, police said. Police fired tear gas and live bullets when thousands of protesters tried to march toward the diplomatic enclave, killing two and injuring nearly 10, two officials said on condition of anonymity.
Elsewhere, protests took place in countries where Iran has influence. In Kano, a part of Nigeria with a sizable Shia Muslim minority, thousands marched peacefully, waving Iranian flags and pictures of Khamenei.
But in Western countries and other areas with large populations of Iranian exiles, many came out to celebrate.
In the crowd in Paris, some people held aloft portraits of loved ones killed under decades of Iran’s clerical rule. Others waved flags of Israel, the United States and France.
In Lisbon, exiled Iranians gathered outside the Iranian embassy.
“We had a party last night, up to 3 a.m. We danced, we chanted, we sang and sang, and that was really amazing,” said Maximilien Jazani, 57. Iranians “want to go to vote and to choose the kind of government they want.”
