The army on Thursday hinted at the possibility of a military trial for Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan, warning that using military personnel for personal or political gain could lead to legal action.
“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,” military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said during a media briefing at the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office located in the General Headquarters.
In response to a query about the potential military trial for Imran Khan, the general attempted to sidestep the question by stating that the matter was sub judice and the question by the journalist was hypothetical. However, he simultaneously outlined the conditions under which a civilian could be tried under military law.
The spokesman’s statement appeared 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 Army Act, which regulates the conduct and responsibilities of military personnel, also establishes the framework for military trials and outlines the offences and procedures relevant to service personnel.
Though Imran Khan’s military trial had long been speculated, rumours gained traction after he sought intervention from the Islamabad High Court to preempt a possible court martial.
Imran Khan’s plea was prompted by concerns that he might be implicated in the May 9 violence, for which FIRs were filed against him in Rawalpindi. His anxieties were heightened by the arrest and speculation that former spy chief Faiz Hameed might turn an approver against him. These fears seemed to be substantiated by a statement from the federal government’s legal affairs spokesman, suggesting that Mr Khan could be tried under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952.
