Amid a mass departure of leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, its chief Imran Khan has filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court against the crackdown on party workers and deployment of military troops across the country except Sindh under Article 245 of the Constitution.
The petition was filed through advocate Hamid Khan in view of May 9 vandalism, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other ruling alliance leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been made respondents.
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 barred the authorities from arresting party workers and leaders who are 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 in military courts for allegedly attacking military installations across the country.
Moreover, the petition also prayed the SC to take action against “forced separation” of PTI leaders as many leaders including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and others 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, 2023”.
