- Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has asserted Imran Khan will face military court trial for May 9 events.
Following the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9, violent clashes erupted, resulting in eight fatalities, 290 injuries, and the arrest of over 1,900 protesters across the country. The accountability court in Islamabad had transferred Imran’s custody to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case. During these riots, protesters stormed the residence of the corps commander in Lahore and breached the gate of GHQ in Rawalpindi.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Rana Sanaullah accused Imran Khan of personally orchestrating the attacks on military installations prior to his arrest, presenting evidence to support the claim. When asked about the possibility of Imran facing a military court trial, Sanaullah confirmed it, stating that the planning and execution of targeting military installations constituted a case for military court.
The interior minister blamed Imran for instigating the riots, alleging that the planning and preparation were initiated by him, with evidence in the form of tweets and messages. Sanaullah further revealed that the strategies and duties were decided prior to Imran’s arrest, explaining how communication between Imran and his party leaders occurred even from jail.
Earlier, the Punjab Police had claimed, based on a geo-fencing report, that Imran and his close aides coordinated efforts to storm the residence of the Lahore corps commander and other buildings. Over 400 calls allegedly made by Imran and senior PTI leaders were detected, inciting party workers to attack sensitive public buildings. The police confirmed the geo-fencing record and the alleged use of Imran’s residence for planning the attack.
With the government’s approval, the transfer of suspects involved in the May 9 riots to military custody has commenced. Rana Sanaullah clarified that out of the 499 FIRs filed, only six cases are being considered for possible trial in military courts. However, he highlighted that a misconception is being created that all suspects will face military court proceedings. Additionally, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court directed the handover of eight suspects to the military for trial.
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