Ousted Pakistan PM Imran Khan May Face Treason Charges

Karachi: Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan may face charges of treason and a possible trial, according to media reports in Pakistan.

A clutch of petitions has been filed against Imran, citing provisions of the constitution, after he tried to scuttle the no-confidence motion brought against him in the National Assembly.

In fact, the Supreme Court had to intervene after the deputy speaker rejected the no-confidence vote. The top court summoned all parties and, after a four-day hearing, ruled that the deputy speaker’s ruling was erroneous and ordered the no-trust vote to go ahead.

Within hours of being voted out of power, Imran declared a ‘freedom struggle’.

Imran also ignored the government’s legal wing and sent a Foreign Office diplomatic letter to Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, claiming that a foreign country had sent a threatening message through Pakistan’s envoy.

Also Read: Pakistan PM Imran Names US Diplomat Involved In ‘Conspiracy’ To Topple His Govt

Ironically, those actions during his last fortnight in power may backfire on Imran now, leading to charges of treason, reported Islam Khabar.

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah has rejected one of the petitions as “frivolous”, but he may still be pulled up as the decision on other petitions are pending in courts.

The provisions of constitution invoked by the petitioners include Article 5(1) under which “loyalty to the state and obedience to the constitution and law” is an inviolable obligation of every citizen.

Article 6, also referred to in the petitions, states that any person who abrogates or attempts to abrogate the constitution by use of force shall be guilty of high treason, adding that an act of treason cannot be validated by any court including the Supreme Court.