There has been a lot of speculation about whether former Prime Minister Imran Khan will face a military trial, but no official confirmation has been made so far. To address this uncertainty, the Islamabad High Court took action on Thursday by consulting the federal government. The court has asked the government to clarify whether Imran Khan will indeed face a military trial or not. While people are waiting for a clear answer, it’s important to note that the hearing on this matter has been postponed until September 16.
In the recent hearing regarding Imran Khan’s potential military trial, both his lawyer and the Additional Attorney General presented their arguments before the court. During the proceedings, Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb expressed concern over the idea of a military trial for Imran Khan, stating that he is a civilian, and trying a civilian in a military court raises significant issues for both the petitioner and the court.
Justice Aurangzeb also pointed out that the petitioner’s lawyer referred to a statement from the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR). If this statement is relevant, the court urged that the federal government should take a clear position on the matter.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb raised an important concern during the hearing, stating, “If today we say that nothing has happened yet, but tomorrow you bring an order for a military trial, then what will happen?” This highlights the court’s apprehension about the uncertainty surrounding Imran Khan’s potential military trial.
Addressing the Additional Attorney General, the court asked him to take clear instructions from the federal government and provide a concrete response by Monday. In reply, the Additional Attorney General requested that the court first address the objections raised on the petition before moving forward with further decisions.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb highlighted a key point during the hearing, referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the trial of civilians in military courts. He emphasized that the federal government must clarify whether it is considering a military trial for the founder of PTI, Imran Khan. He added that if there is no such plan, the petition will become irrelevant. However, if the government is considering this option, the court will proceed to hear and make a decision on the case.
This comment puts the spotlight on the federal government, as the court seeks a clear answer on the matter before moving forward. However, the proceeding has been postponed till September 16 for the subject matter.
