Amid 'court martial rumours', Imran Khan moves LHC against potential 'detention by army' in May 9 riots case

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan has filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) against potential handover to military custody amid “circulating rumours” that plans were underway to try him for the May 9 riots through a “court martial”.

According to a Dawn report, the move comes as LHC today hears Imran’s July 18 petition against his physical remand in 12 criminal cases related to the violent attacks last year that his supporters allegedly carried out to target military installations and state properties.

The petition was submitted by Khan’s lawyer Uzair Karamat, requesting that Imran “be retained in civilian hands and subject to the jurisdiction of civilian courts,” added the report.

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“…Rumours started circulating that Petitioner No. 1 (Imran Khan) will be shifted to the custody of army authorities today (i.e. 25.7.2024) in connection with the very cases which form the subject matter of Writ Petition No. 45901 of 2024 and connected matters,” Dawn quoted the petition as saying.

The petition added that recently Imran Khan publicly expressed concerns, widely covered by the media, about potential efforts to subject him to a court martial for the events of May 9.

“It appears that the implementation of those plans has been accelerated because of the proceedings in the aforementioned case," the petition added.

The petition further said that the respondents, which include the inspector-general of police Punjab, inspector-general Islamabad, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), among others, be prohibited from transferring Imran Khan’s custody to military authorities.

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Khan was booked on the charges of abetment in attacks on Lahore Corps Commander House known as Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station on May 9, 2023.

Supporters of Khan attacked several important government buildings and army installations following his arrest in an alleged corruption case in May last year.

He clarified that he had called for peaceful protests outside the army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) if arrested but never authorised any violent actions. Khan accused Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of stealing CCTV footage related to the May 9 events.

With inputs from agencies