Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan should be tried in a military court, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday.

“During his [Imran Khan] tenure, I was charged under Article 6 [high treason] and he should also undergo a military trial,” he said while appearing on Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia. “He did not descend from the heavens.”

This is not the first time Asif has said this. He spoke about it last month in an interview with a private channel. But he did not elaborate on the evidence against the former prime minister.

On September 5, the army hinted at a military trial for Khan and warned that using military personnel for personal or political gains invites 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 stated during a media briefing at the Inter-Services Public Relations office located in the General Headquarters.

Such apprehensions were also expressed by Khan himself following former spymaster Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed’s arrest. He approached the Islamabad High Court against his possible military trial in connection with cases registered against him over the May 9 violent protests.

In one of the hearings, the federal government informed the court Khan’s trial by military court was not under its consideration.

According to the defence minister, events related to May 9 could land the PTI founder’s case in the military courts.

“If the May 9 events trial started in military courts, which according to me should start as military installations were attacked, and if his connection is established, which I think is, then he will tried there,” Asif said.

When columnist Javed Chaudhry appeared on Rubaroo on September 13, he also spoke in the same wavelength but linked it to the constitutional amendment.

He was of the view that the “speculative environment” in the country has been settled after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. “We have crossed the threshold of uncertainties.”

The defence minister added that lawyers have the right to oppose.

“I think doors of judicial adventurism are closed after the 26th Constitutional Amendment.”

When asked, Asif took exception to the US lawmakers’ call for the release of former PM Imran Khan. He wondered why the US Congress does not take notice of Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, but comments on Pakistan’s internal matter.

“Do not attach any credibility to the resolutions or whatever is happening in the House of Representatives or Senate. They are partners in crime with Israel and I don’t give credibility to the utterances of those who are with Israel. I don’t think it is necessary.”

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He went on to add that America’s “politics is dirtier than the politics” in Pakistan.

In response to a question, he said that no country refrains from talks and added that Kashmir would be on top if Pakistan-India talks were held ever.

He added that there was no truth to reports that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was out of the media. Asif stated that the party was standing because of Nawaz.

“The prime minister and the Punjab chief minister will be overshadowed by Nawaz Sharif if he starts appearing on media. He is a big leader.”