Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Clarifies Jurisdiction of Military Courts in Imran Khan's Possible Trial

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, in a press conference on Friday, stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's potential trial in connection with the May 9 mayhem falls under the jurisdiction of military courts. He emphasized that the Pakistan Army Act applies to individuals who entered restricted areas, sent others, or abetted such actions.

Sanaullah explained that the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act are applicable to activities in military areas, referring to the attack on the Jinnah House by enraged PTI workers on May 9. The incident occurred following Khan's arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case, resulting in widespread protests, vandalism of private and public properties, and attacks on military installations, including the Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) entrance.

The military has declared May 9 as a "Black Day" and has affirmed that all individuals involved in the vandalism of military installations will be tried under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated in this regard.

Sanaullah clarified that out of nearly 500 cases filed after the May 9 mayhem, only six cases are being processed for trial under the Army Act. He dismissed the PTI's perception that all those arrested would face military courts and stated that the remaining cases would be tried in ordinary courts.

Addressing concerns and dispelling rumors, Sanaullah provided details about the legal actions taken against the vandals who attacked government and military installations. He mentioned that 499 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 88 of them falling under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and 411 registered on other charges.

Sanaullah informed that a total of 3,944 suspects had been arrested in the two provinces, with 2,588 detained in Punjab and 1,099 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also noted that 5,536 additional arrests were made in other cases, and a significant portion of those arrested have been released on bail.

Furthermore, to address misconceptions about the involvement of military courts, Sanaullah categorically denied rumors that all cases would be tried in military courts. He clarified that only seven out of the 499 cases are being processed for trial in military courts, with 19 accused transferred to military courts in Punjab and 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He reiterated that such measures are not being taken elsewhere.