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

News Desk
Friday, May 26, 2023

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

The Federation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other ruling alliance leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been made respondents in the petition filed through advocate Hamid Khan.

Referring to the deployment of army troops in aid of civil authorities, the PTI chief implored the court to declare the imposition of Article 245 invalid and bar the authorities from arresting party workers and leaders who were allegedly involved in ransacking state installations following Khan’s arrest on May 9.

The petition has also requested the apex court to stop the trial of civilians accused of attacking defence installations in military courts, terming it violation of fundamental rights. Khan also accused Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam for creating “rifts” between PTI and military by “propagating” that he wanted to appoint army chief of his choice.

Moreover, the petition also prayed the SC to take action against “forced separation” of PTI leaders as many leaders including Fawad Chaudhry and Shireen Mazari parted ways with Khan over May 9 riots.

It further asked the apex court to hold “impartial judicial inquiry into events leading up to the horrendous and gory events of May 9”.The petition further said that attempts were being made to dissolve the PTI through fear and arrests, adding houses were being raided and arrests being made without registering cases.

“The Lahore Corps Commander House is actually Jinnah House and legally a civilian building,” the petition read.“The trial of those suspected to have carried out the Jinnah House attack in military courts is against the law,” it added.