Summary:
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hints that PTI founder Imran Khan could face an open trial in a military court.
- Imran Khan had earlier demanded a public trial for General Faiz Hamid, who is under military custody for alleged misconduct.
- Asif claims that Khan and his party were involved in planning the May 9 riots, linking them to the detained former spy chief.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that if Imran Khan were to be tried in a military court, it could be an open trial, responding to Khan’s recent demand for a public hearing for ex-ISI chief Faiz Hamid. Khan, who has been calling for an open trial for Hamid following his arrest earlier this month over alleged abuse of power and violations of the Army Act, has faced accusations from Asif. Asif stated that such a precedent for an open military trial does not exist in Pakistan’s history and clarified that while the military generally does not conduct open trials, any trial involving a civilian like Khan would be accessible to the public and media.
Asif further accused Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of orchestrating the violent protests on May 9, which targeted state properties and military installations. He alleged that Khan provided the manpower for these riots, while Hamid was accused of masterminding the conspiracy. Despite Khan’s denials of any connections with Hamid, Asif claimed that PTI’s leadership had maintained contact with the former ISI chief even after the riots.
In a recent informal discussion with journalists at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Khan expressed that an open trial for Hamid would be beneficial for the country and its prosperity. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar criticized Khan’s statements as an attempt to politicize the army’s internal accountability process. Tarar accused Khan of trying to make the army’s internal matters controversial.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced Hamid’s arrest on August 12, citing allegations of land grabbing and theft in the Top City housing scheme case. A court martial process has been initiated against Hamid following a detailed inquiry by the Pakistan Army. Additionally, three retired officers have been taken into military custody in connection with the same case. Sources identified two of these officers as retired brigadiers Ghaffar and Naeem, and the third as retired colonel Asim, who were allegedly involved in the scheme as intermediaries between the political party and Hamid.
