All evidence is pointing towards a military trial for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said.
“I think day by day this thing is getting clear that his military trial will be based on the evidence and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed will speak about his cooperation with Imran Khan,” Asif said in an interview with Rubaroo aired on Aaj News on Saturday.
“He [Faiz] will be because ultimately he will wish to put all the blame on someone else if being involved in any conspiracy.”
On Thursday, the army hinted at a military trial for former prime minister Imran Khan, warning 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.
Asif also spoke in the same wavelength, alleging that the former prime minister and ex-spymaster tried to seize the country and insurrection in the army.
He hinted at the possibility of a military trial against Khan, warning that using military personnel for personal or political gain invited legal action.
When asked about the evidence, the defence minister stated that he did not have any direct information about the investigation as the army was doing it and the information was secret.
But he said that the May 9 protests raise some questions as to why the army was “targeted” and some people in the army were “directing the protesters”. To support his argument, he mentioned the PTI leaders Shehryar Afridi and Yasmin Rashid’s speeches.
“It means it was as per a script. So obviously, it was Imran Khan’s instructions,” Asif said, “such kind of planning can only come from an army mind.”
According to the defence minister, such actions were triggered by the loss of power by Khan and Faiz. He alleged that the former spymaster wanted to be the army chief and for that, the latter had approached the PML-N to seek support for the decision.
“All these complaints exacerbated after incumbent the army chief’s appointment,” he said.
Asif went on to add that there have been military trials in the past and people can be tried in the future if they cross limits which leads to confrontation with the army or comes in the domain of Pakistan’s security.
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When asked, he said that the government and the army’s cooperation were not hidden like it was in the PTI tenure.
He claimed that the ruling coalition’s cooperation was in “public knowledge, in front of people, and media. There is an environment of cooperation between Pindi and Islamabad.”
Asif said: “We acknowledge that there is an arrangement. It is much needed because of the economic quagmire left by Khan. We also request the judiciary to apply the law by looking into the economic situation.”
He defended the government’s decision to present bills to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges and seek a two-thirds majority.
“When 2.7 million cases are pending in the country and your standing is 130 on a table of 150 countries, then you need to increase the number of judges. They are increasing it to 21. I think it should be 50 so that people get justice.”
In response to a question, he said that the presence of the AGP, law minister, and law secretary would not affect the Supreme Judicial Council’s decision.
Asif went on to add that a two-thirds majority was needed to overcome constitutional obstacles. “That’s a very legitimate effort.”
At one point, Asif said that his wife faced at least faced 30 court appearances and wondered if the former prime minister and his wife were special.
He alleged that the Inter-Services Intelligence personnel led by Faiz Hameed used to interfere in matters related to legislation, governance, and elections.
In response to a question, he said: “I did not have any competition with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. So there is no question of preference. He had enjoyed unqualified power when he was in the party. I did not have any political differences, we had personal differences. His political closeness with Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif was unqualified. What stature does Sialkot have in front of Pindi.”
When asked, he said: “I don’t see a sea of people coming in the September 8 rally.”
