### Islamabad High Court Informed: No Decision Yet on Imran Khan’s Military Trial
During a recent hearing, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed that the government has not yet reached a decision regarding the military trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Duggal conveyed this update on September 24, as the court sought clarification from the Ministry of Defence about Khan’s potential trial by military court.
Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had filed a petition against the military trials linked to the May 9 riots, which resulted in vandalism at military installations following his arrest in a graft case in 2023. His petition gained traction after remarks from high-ranking government officials, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, sparked speculation about his military trial.
In July 2023, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore indicated reasonable grounds to associate Khan with the events of May 9. The AAG stated that should a decision be made regarding Khan’s military trial, the legal process would be followed, starting with a submission to a civil magistrate.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC subsequently disposed of Khan’s petition, noting that the Ministry of Defence lacked information about military custody or trial procedures at this time. The court had previously requested clarity on the process of civilian trials in military courts.
The legal landscape surrounding Khan’s situation is complicated, particularly following the Supreme Court’s ruling in October 2023, which initially deemed civilian trials in military courts invalid, only for that ruling to be suspended later in December 2023.
As Khan remains imprisoned—currently housed in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail after being moved from Attock prison—his legal troubles continue to mount. He has faced multiple charges over the past year, including in high-profile cases like the Toshakhana and cipher cases. Despite some legal victories, including the suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case, new charges related to the sale of state gifts have further complicated his situation, leaving his prospects for release uncertain.
