Imran Khan moves SC against ‘forced separation’ of leaders, military deployment

• Khan filed a petition against “forced” departure of party leaders, military trials.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz, Nawaz, Zardari and the leaders of the ruling coalition were made defendants.
• The PTI chief requested the Supreme Court to declare the deployment of military forces illegal under Article 245.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court against the implementation of Article 245 and the ongoing crackdown on party workers across the country except in Sindh in the wake of the May 9 riots. .

The federal government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders of the ruling coalition including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been made parties in the petition filed through Advocate Hamid Khan.

Citing the deployment of military forces to assist civil authorities, the PTI chief pleaded with the court to nullify the invocation of Article 245 and bar authorities from arresting party workers and leaders who Since May’s arrest, Khan has been involved in vandalizing state facilities. 9.

The petition also requested the Supreme Court to stay the trial of the citizens accused of attacking defense installations. Military courtsHe called it a violation of fundamental rights.

Khan also accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) chief Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam of creating rifts between the PTI and the military by “propagandizing” that they are of their choice. want to appoint the army chief.

Additionally, the petition also requested the Supreme Court to take action against the “forced separation” of PTI leaders as many leaders including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and others had defected from Khan over the May 9 riots. .

It further asked the apex court to “conduct an impartial judicial inquiry into the events surrounding the horrific and heartbreaking events of May 9, 2023”.

On Monday, the PTI had filed a similar petition in the Supreme Court challenging the deployment of armed forces under Article 245, alleging that it was being used for “political”. .[ly] The targeting of the Imran Khan-led party and the trial of civilians accused of the May 9 arson attack in military courts are “flagrant violations of due process” and Pakistan’s commitment to international law.

The petition was filed by PTI Additional Secretary General Umar Ayub Khan on behalf of the party and sought the Supreme Court’s intervention under Article 184(3).

On 9 May, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court, and following his arrest, protests broke out across the country that also saw attacks on several military installations – including The corps commander’s house in Lahore and the general headquarters in Rawalpindi were also included.

After violent protests, army was called in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad and Balochistan to maintain law and order situation.