Islamabad, April 14: In an ironic turn of events, the provisions of Pakistan's constitution that the former Prime Minister Imran Khan sought to use against his opponents might be his undoing by becoming the reason for possible charges of treason against him, according to a media report.
Notably, with a slew of petitions filed before various courts citing constitutional provisions that Khan sought to use against his opponents during his last fortnight in power, he may face renewed treason charges and a probable trial, according to Islam Khabar. Though Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah dismissed one of these petitions as "frivolous," Khan is still in jeopardy depending on the results of other petitions still pending in the courts.
After failing to prevent the no-confidence motion due to a lack of a majority, Khan declared the beginning of a "freedom struggle" in the National Assembly just hours after being swept out of power on April 10.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court had to repeatedly intervene in the no-trust motion process, taking note of the National Assembly's rejection of the motion and calling all parties for a four-day hearing.
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Additionally, dismissing serious concerns from the government's legal wing, Khan addressed a diplomatic letter to Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, stating that a foreign country sent a threatening message through Pakistan's envoy, according to the media outlet.
The relevant constitutional provisions based on which the pleas have been filed against Imran Khan 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, another article included 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 and adds that an act of treason cannot be validated by any court including the Supreme Court.
So, a possible trial against Khan may implicate all those who participated in blocking the parliamentary vote, a legitimate exercise under the Constitution. These include President Arif Alvi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Deputy Speaker Qasim Shah Suri and two former ministers -- Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhary.
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-PTC News