Pakistan Military Court Sentences 25 Imran Khan Supporters for Protest Violence

Pakistan’s armed forces have announced that a military tribunal has found 25 individuals guilty of involvement in violent demonstrations that followed the apprehension of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The court specified that it issued prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their connection to assaults on military installations last year. Widespread protests commenced across the nation in May 2023 after security personnel detained Khan at the High Court on corruption charges, which he characterized as politically motivated. Thousands of Khan’s supporters subsequently stormed governmental buildings and military sites, prompting the government to initiate a crackdown against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Police reported that a minimum of 1,400 demonstrators were apprehended last year; however, only approximately 100 of those taken into custody have undergone military proceedings. The army stated that complete justice would only be achieved once the orchestrators of the protests are penalized. A Supreme Court decision from last year provisionally authorized military courts to prosecute civilian defendants. A spokesperson for the PTI party asserted that “All sentences announced by the military courts are disproportionate and excessive,” further stating that “these sentences are rejected”. Amnesty International has declared that prosecuting civilians in military courts is “contrary to international law” and described it as “purely an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent”. For the majority of its history, Pakistan’s army has exerted significant influence over the nuclear-armed nation, acting as a pivotal behind-the-scenes force. Imran Khan, a former Pakistani cricket star, was elected prime minister in 2018 but subsequently experienced a deterioration in his relationship with the country’s formidable army. Following a series of defections, he lost his parliamentary majority. His removal from office occurred after he lost a vote of no confidence in April 2022, four years into his term. Since his ousting, he has been an outspoken critic of both the government and the nation’s military. In October 2022, he was barred from holding public office, facing accusations of failing to accurately declare details of gifts received from foreign dignitaries and the proceeds from their alleged sale. The subsequent month, he survived a gun attack on his convoy while participating in a protest march.