Islamabad:
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah stated Friday that military courts can try PTI Chairman Imran Khan for the May 9 mayhem.
In a press conference, he claimed the Pakistan Army Act applied to anyone who entered, sent, or aided prohibited regions.
Sanaullah stated the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act applied to military activities. The Lahore corps commander lives in Jinnah House. Jinnah House had many delicate objects.”
After Khan’s detention in the Al-Qadir Trust case, PTI workers attacked Jinnah House on May 9. During the days-long demonstration, PTI members vandalised private and public assets in cities across the country and targeted military institutions like the Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) entrance.
Moreover, The military called May 9 a “Black Day” and said individuals who vandalised military sites, will punished under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act. The legal process has begun, according to Army Chief General Asim Munir.
While, Sanaullah denied the PTI’s claim that all of the almost 500 charges filed after the May 9 vandalism will be tried under the Army Act, saying “only six” are.
The remaining will be tried by ordinary courts
“The remaining will tried by ordinary courts,” he stated in a presser today to clarify the government’s crackdown on May 9 mayhem suspects.
“Many analyses and conspiracies have spread…” “I decided to appear here and present the facts and figures,” Sanaullah remarked.
Moreover, The interior minister reported that Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have filed 499 First Information Reports (FIRs) against vandals who damaged government and military installations.
“Of these, 88 have been registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act [ATA], while 411 have been registered on other charges.”
Sanaullah added that 2,588 Punjabi suspects and 1,099 KP suspects have been arrested in the two provinces.
The interior ministry reported 5,536 additional arrests, 80% of which released on bail.
To dispel military court suspicions, he stated that just seven of the 499 cases processed for military court trials.
“Military courts are handling everything.” Not so. Punjab has transferred 19 defendants and KP 14 to military courts. “Nowhere else these measures taken,” he clarified.
