Imran Khan, the former prime minister who is currently in detention and the original chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has filed a request with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop being moved to military custody so that he can stand trial in connection with the events of May 9. Imran’s attorney, Uzair Karamat Bhandari, submitted a petition to keep Imran under civilian rule.
The application lists several government employees as responders, including the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the inspector general of prisons, the secretary of law, the secretary of interior, and the inspector generals of Punjab and Islamabad. The plea asks the court to prevent the government from sending Imran to military detention and to make sure his trial takes place in a civilian court.
Imran declared yesterday that he would only have talks with decision-makers, but he was still open to having conversations. Speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail, Imran Khan said that May 9 is their “insurance policy.” He went on to say that politics and the government would end if May 9 is ignored. He recommended setting up a judicial panel to look into what happened on May 9.
“Whenever the subject of negotiations comes up, they begin bringing up May 9. We are prepared to speak at any time. We’re going to talk to the people who make the decisions,” he continued. Additionally, Imran Khan stated that Pakistan would be proud if he were appointed Chancellor of Oxford University.
He did say, though, that it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t end up being Chancellor. In a lawsuit filed earlier on July 25, the imprisoned and troubled former premier claimed that inmates connected to the events of May 9 should continue to be tried by civilian courts and requested an injunction to that effect. The appeal was directed against the former premier’s possible transfer to military detention.
Lahore High Court (LHC) received the petition from Imran’s attorney, Uzair Karamat. In this case, the respondents are the federal government and the Inspector Generals (IGs) of each of the four provinces. Claiming he was responsible for stirring up protests at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Imran said a false narrative had been created.
