Military Space News
THE STANS
Pakistan says 102 in military court over ex-PM Khan arrest violence
Pakistan says 102 in military court over ex-PM Khan arrest violence
By Sajjad TARAKZAI, Deva LEE
Islamabad (AFP) June 26, 2023

More than 100 people are being tried in Pakistan military courts over violence that erupted after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested last month, the army said Monday, adding that three officers had been dismissed.

Khan's arrest on graft charges at the Islamabad High Court on May 9 sparked deadly street violence, with thousands of supporters clashing with police and some setting fire to military buildings.

He was released three days later when the Supreme Court declared the detention illegal.

But his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been the subject of a crackdown since -- with thousands of supporters arrested, press freedoms muted and reports of intimidation tactics.

Military spokesman Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Monday that "102 miscreants are being tried in the already established military courts" in connection with attacks on more than 200 army sites.

"This was a huge heinous conspiracy against Pakistan," Chaudhry told reporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. "People were instigated and provoked against the army."

Elections are due by October and Khan has said the ongoing crackdown is a bid to prevent the massively popular politician's party from success at the polls.

Rights monitors have criticised Pakistan's use of opaque military trials for civilians, with Amnesty International previously saying they result in "a catalogue of human rights violations".

- Strict discipline -

Chaudhry said three officers, including a lieutenant general, were dismissed after they "failed to maintain the security and sanctity" of army properties during the unrest.

"Strict disciplinary action" has been taken against a further 15 people, including three major generals and seven brigadiers, he said.

Pakistan's generals hold undue influence over the country's politics, having staged at least three successful coups leading to decades of martial law.

Since being ousted by a no-confidence vote in April last year, Khan has challenged their authority with a series of allegations considered incendiary in Pakistan.

His arrest last month came just hours after he repeated accusations a senior army officer was behind an assassination attempt that saw him shot in the leg.

"In Pakistan, the military is rarely subject to accountability. For the military leadership to publicly announce the firing of senior officers --- that's nothing to sneeze at," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

"Clearly the military wants to stress that this is a full-on crackdown that will target anyone remotely connected to the violence -- even those that weren't involved in it directly," he told AFP.

- Politics on trial -

Islamabad has accused PTI protestors of committing anti-state terrorism, and this month the army's publicity wing vowed to tighten "the noose of law" around those involved in violence.

Prior to his arrest Khan was staging regular mass rallies, pressuring Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's fragile government coalition to hold snap polls.

But in the aftermath, many grassroots supporters have been arrested and numerous top aides have quit, some after repeated detentions.

Khan, who came into office in 2018 with the backing of the nation's military before falling out with the top brass, seems an increasingly isolated figure.

The 70-year-old has said the violence on May 9 was staged to justify the crackdown on his party.

His only public appearances are now via regular livestreamed speeches and weekly court appearances in a slew of cases which have tangled him since he left office.

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
THE STANS
Sweden to extradite self-proclaimed PKK supporter to Turkey
Stockholm (AFP) June 12, 2023
Sweden on Monday agreed to extradite to Turkey a man convicted of drug trafficking who also supported the pro-Kurdish PKK, a first since Stockholm's NATO bid was stalled by Ankara. Turkey has accused Sweden of being a haven for "terrorists," especially members of the the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, a group blacklisted by Ankara, and has asked Stockholm to return dozens of people. Turkey wants Sweden to crack down on extremist groups and send back dozens of suspects Ankara believes are lin ... read more

THE STANS
Race on for protection against hypersonic missiles

Ukraine says downed 13 cruise missiles overnight

Aerojet Rocketdyne hot fires large solid rocket motor for next generation MRBM target

Europeans scramble on air defence after decades of complacency

THE STANS
UN aviation agency condemns North Korea missile launches

Northrop Grumman manufactures 2000th solid rocket motor for Trident II D5 Program

Aerojet Rocketdyne teams with Lockheed Martin to develop Long Range Maneuverable Fires Missile

US Air Force awards RTX $1.15 billion for latest AMRAAM configuration

THE STANS
Drones steal the spotlight at Paris Air Show

Northrop Grumman dispatches another Triton UAV to the US Navy

UK probes report of universities working with Iran on drones

Three drones downed near military base in Moscow region

THE STANS
Ensuring reliable communications between US and Partners at the tactical edge

Luxembourg Parliament Approves MGS, Enabling NATO's Access to SES's O3b mPOWER System

Final Ariane 5 Flight Will Carry German Communications Satellite Into Space

OneWeb and Eutelsat demonstrate global connectivity solution to NATO

THE STANS
Scholz urges NATO summit to focus on boosting Ukraine fighting strength

Four dead in Russian gunpowder plant blast

Making the 'connected battlespace' a reality

MARSS passes major milestone in multi-site defence project in the middle east

THE STANS
EU adds 3.5 billion euros to Ukraine weapons fund

Turkish arms makers' export ambition on display at Paris Air Show

Blinken says China promised not to send arms to Russia

France pushes back against German-led Euro air defence plan

THE STANS
Lukashenko says Russia mismanaged tensions with Wagner

With an eye toward China, Biden goes all-in for Modi

China says supports Russia in 'protecting national stability': foreign ministry

Vilnius urges beefed-up NATO if Prigozhin in Belarus

THE STANS
Single-molecule valve: a breakthrough in nanoscale control

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.