ISLAMABAD: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently assured a fellow parliamentarian that there have been “no recent indications” from Pakistani authorities that they intend to try former prime minister Imran Khan in a military court, reiterating that he had the right to a fair trial and due process.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military buildings 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. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The development raised fears among Khan supporters of his possible trial by a military court, prompting the former prime minister to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court against it. The petition was dismissed by the court in September after the government said it had not decided whether or not it wanted to try the former premier.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson in September hinted at Khan’s possible military trial, saying that though the matter was sub judice, using military personnel for personal or political gains invites legal action.
In response to an Oct. 16 letter penned by Labour legislator Kim Johnson, Lammy assured him that the UK government engages regularly “at a senior level” with Pakistan on the country’s political situation.
“We have no recent indications from the Pakistani authorities that they intend to try Imran Khan in a military court, but my officials continue to monitor the situation closely,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Johnson dated Nov. 11.
The UK official said he has raised concerns about the potential use of military courts to try civilians, including Khan. Lammy added that such courts can lack transparency and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to assess their compliance with international standards.
“While Pakistan’s judicial processes are a domestic matter, we have been very clear that the Pakistani authorities need to act in line with their international obligations and with respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process and humane detention,” he wrote.
“This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan’s citizens.”
Lammy said he remains concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Pakistan, including those in relation to political opposition.
“In our engagements with the authorities, we continue to underline that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy,” he said.
Khan’s close aide, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari shared Lammy’s letter on social media platform X.
“Respect for free and fair elections, and the rule of law, underpinned by an independent judiciary, are the bedrock of a democracy,” Bukhari wrote. “Pakistanis continue to struggle for theirs.”
Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022 and has since waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s powerful military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Khan’s party says the military and his political rivals rigged the Feb. 8 general election to form the Sharif-led government. Both deny the charge.
No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
https://arab.news/2bdmn
No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Khan, like other Pakistani prisoners, has right to fair trial and due process
- Pakistan’s military has initiated trials of at least 103 Khan supporters accused of attacking military installations last year
Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan appointed Pakistan’s first Constitutional Court chief justice
- Federal Constitutional Court will now decide cases involving Pakistan’s constitution, instead of the Supreme Court
- A top court judge since 2019, Justice Khan has decided thousands of civil cases relating to inheritance, property
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari appointed top court judge Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan as the first chief justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday, a notification from the law ministry said.
The FCC was formed after the government made sweeping changes to the military and judicial command structure via the 27th constitutional amendment. The new amendment shifts constitutional cases from the Supreme Court to the FCC while it grants expanded powers to Pakistan’s army chief.
“The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Mr. Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan as Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan with effect from the date he makes oath of his office,” a notification from the law ministry read.
According to the Supreme Court’s website, Justice Khan was born on Dec. 1, 1960 in the eastern city of Multan where he received his education from Kindergarten Muslim School. He completed his secondary education from the Government Muslim High School in 1977.
He secured his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1981 and completed his L.L.B degree from the University Law College in Multan in 1984 and also secured a diploma in Taxation Law.
Justice Khan obtained the license to practice in Pakistan’s lower courts in 1985 before enrolling as an advocate of the Lahore High Court in 1987. He was later enrolled as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2001.
He was involved there in mostly civil cases relating to property, preemption and matters of inheritance.
Justice Khan was elevated to the bench in 2011 and during his stint as judge, he decided thousands of civil cases the Bahawalpur Bench and Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court.
He was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2019.
His appointment to the post takes place hours after two Supreme Court judges, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, resigned in protest.
The judges took exception to the 27th constitutional amendment, with Justice Shah describing it as a “grave assault” on the constitution.
The FCC was set up after years of clashes between the executive and the judiciary. Verdicts issued by the top courts over the years ousted prime ministers from office and put the judiciary on a confrontational path with the governments at the time.
