ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought clarification from the Pakistani government about a possible military trial of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in connection with violent protests over his arrest last year that targeted government and military installations.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military buildings on May 9, 2023, after his brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many continue to remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
Last month, the army arrested retired general Faiz Hameed, former head of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, who was widely believed to be close to Khan when he was PM from 2018-2022. The military said “multiple instances” of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement had been found against Hameed, in what was widely seen as a veiled reference to his continued support to Khan and his party, including in planning the May 2023 riots.
The developments raised fears within Khan supporters of his possible trial by a military court as Defense Minister Khawaja Asif even referred to Hameed as a “strategic adviser” to the PTI during the violence, prompting Khan to file a petition in the IHC against his possible military trial.
“The court has ordered the additional attorney general of Pakistan to clear the ambiguity by Monday, Sept 16 or the court will issue an interim order,” the PTI said in a statement sent to reporters. “The government, so far, has failed to maintain if the possible military trial of a former prime minister is still on the cards or if it was just a ploy to buy time for more gimmicks.”
In his petition, Khan has referred to Hameed’s arrest and to widespread media reports and speculation that the former spy chief would “be made an approver against the petitioner [Khan] in cases pertaining to May 9 and 10, 2023 and the petitioner will be transferred to military custody on this basis.”
The ex-premier also referred to recent statements by government officials that he should be tried in a military court and that the provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 were applicable to him.
Khan and the PTI say the May 2023 riots have been used as a ruse by political rivals and the military to crack down on the party, which is arguably the most popular in Pakistan. Khan has also been indicted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law in connection with the violence. A section of Pakistan’s 1997 anti-terrorism act prescribes the death penalty as maximum punishment. Khan has denied the charges under the anti-terrorism law, saying he was in detention when the violence took place.
Khan has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges that he says are “politically motivated” to keep him out of power and suppress the popularity of the PTI. Authorities deny the allegations.
Khan was convicted in four cases since he was first taken into custody, all of which have been either suspended or overturned by the courts. He, however, remains in jail on new charges relating to the illegal sale of gifts from a state repository while he was the prime minister.
Court seeks government clarification on Pakistan ex-PM Khan’s possible military trial
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Court seeks government clarification on Pakistan ex-PM Khan’s possible military trial
- Imran Khan fears arrested former spy chief will be made an approver in May 2023 riots cases and he will be transferred to military custody
- The former premier, who is in jail since August 2023, has been indicted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law in connection with last year’s violence
Pakistan PM says ceasefire with India offers chance to resolve Kashmir, water issues
- Shehbaz Sharif thanks President Trump, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for de-escalation efforts
- Pakistan’s foreign office denies allegations of ceasefire violation, says Islamabad implementing the deal
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire with India in the hope that it would open the door to resolving longstanding disputes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, including the Kashmir conflict and the division of river waters.
His remarks came hours after the United States helped broker a ceasefire between the two South Asian rivals following intense missile and drone exchanges, which began after a gun attack in Pahalgam, a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed 26 people.
India blamed Pakistan for the incident despite Islamabad’s rejection of the allegation, and launched retaliatory strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure.” It also took other retaliatory actions, including suspension of a decades-old river water sharing treaty with lower riparian Pakistan.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both countries had agreed to a ceasefire and would begin talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral venue.
“As a responsible state, we have responded positively to the ceasefire proposal in the interest of global and regional peace, and for the millions of people living in the region,” Sharif said in a televised address to the nation.
“We firmly believe that all outstanding issues, including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir and the distribution of water resources, should be resolved through peaceful dialogue in accordance with the principles of justice,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Indian foreign secretary said the two countries’ military operations chiefs had spoken to each other and agreed that all fighting would stop at 5 p.m. Indian time (1130 GMT), without using the word “ceasefire.” The MO chiefs would next speak on May 12, he added.
Within hours, however, India accused Islamabad of violating the ceasefire by targeting Srinagar city in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ata Tarar denied the allegation, saying people in his country were celebrating the end of the conflict and the government remained committed to the agreement.
The foreign office of Pakistan also maintained the country remained committed to the “faithful implementation” of the ceasefire.
“Notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,” it said in a statement.
“We believe that any issues in smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels,” it continued. “The troops on ground should also exercise restraint.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry told Arab News, “the response would be harsh” if India defied the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said in his address that India had used the Pahalgam incident “as a pretext” to impose war on Pakistan.
“In its arrogance, the enemy made a failed attempt to violate our borders,” he said. “We decided to respond to the enemy in the language it understands best.”
Sharif also thanked US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed for their role in helping de-escalate the situation.
Saudi Arabia, other nations welcome news of India-Pakistan ceasefire
- Pakistan appreciates Saudi Arabia’s positive role in promoting regional peace and stability
- Western powers say ‘dialogue is key,’ hoping both sides to respect the ceasefire agreement
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India, following a week of military escalation that raised fears of a full-blown war between the two South Asian neighbors.
The ceasefire, brokered with US support after missile and drone exchanges between the nuclear-armed neighbors, has drawn a wave of diplomatic endorsements after many countries called for restraint and renewed dialogue.
Pakistan has credited the international community for playing a constructive role in defusing tensions, while also emphasizing its own measured response to what it described as Indian aggression.
“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, received a call from the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Aljubeir @AdelAljubeir, who welcomed the ceasefire understanding between
Pakistan and India,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a post on social media platform X.
“DPM appreciated Saudi Arabia’s positive and constructive role in promoting peace & security in South Asia,” it added.
Dar also spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, briefing him on the regional situation following Indian attacks and Islamabad’s “carefully calibrated response.”
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, Wang acknowledged Pakistan’s restraint and described its actions as responsible under challenging circumstances.
China reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged continued coordination.
The UAE also expressed support for the ceasefire.
In a separate call, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed welcomed the development, and Dar commended the Gulf state’s diplomatic engagement in fostering regional peace.
Germany’s foreign office described the ceasefire as a “first, important step out of the escalation spiral” and stressed the importance of dialogue.
“Dialogue is key,” it said. “The German government has been in contact with both sides in the past days.”
Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said she had spoken with both Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers and called the truce a “vital step toward de-escalation.”
“All efforts must be made to ensure it is respected,” she wrote on X, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to peace, stability and counter-terrorism in the region.
The flare-up between Pakistan and India, one of the most serious in recent years, followed a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month and escalated into missile strikes, drone attacks and cross-border fire over the past week.
The ceasefire, announced Saturday, has temporarily halted hostilities, with both sides trading blame for the conflict.
Pakistan, China, Afghanistan vow cooperation on security and economy at Kabul meeting
- Representatives of the three countries met under a trilateral mechanism launched in 2017
- They discussed the forthcoming foreign ministers’ conference expected to take place in Kabul
PESHAWAR: A trilateral meeting hosted by Afghanistan in Kabul on Saturday focused on economic and security outlook of the region, according to Pakistan’s special envoy Mohammad Sadiq, as the participants pledged to deepen cooperation in various fields.
The meeting marked the latest round of talks under the trilateral dialogue mechanism between Afghanistan, China and Pakistan that was launched in 2017 to promote political trust, counterterrorism coordination and economic integration.
Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, hosted the talks, which also included China’s special envoy Yue Xiaoyong.
“The first meeting of the Pakistan-China-Afghanistan trilateral in Kabul today... provided the occasion for convergence of views on economic and security cooperation as well as regional stability,” Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, said in a post on social media platform X.
All three sides reviewed progress on commitments made during the last dialogue and agreed to convene the sixth round of foreign ministers’ meeting in Kabul at a future date, according to a report published by Afghanistan’s Ariana News.
The officials also discussed broader preparations for an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, and reaffirmed their intention to expand political and economic engagement.
Muttaqi highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral and trilateral ties, while the Chinese and Pakistani envoys reiterated their commitment to good-neighborly relations based on mutual respect and non-interference.
China and Pakistan are among the few countries to maintain ongoing engagement with the Taliban-led government in Kabul, though neither formally recognizes it.
Both Beijing and Islamabad have called for stability in Afghanistan to enable cross-border connectivity and curb the threat of militant spillover.
Pakistan says ‘premature’ to speculate if ceasefire will lead to real peace with India
- Pakistani State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry tells Arab News “response would be harsh” if India defied ceasefire
- Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says armed forces had been given instructions to “deal strongly” with any violations
ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday it was premature to speculate if a US-brokered military ceasefire between Pakistan and India would lead to real peace, as fresh violence was reported on both sides of the de facto border between the two nuclear-armed nations, who vowed retaliation.
Within hours of the truce announcement, violations were reported from the main cities of Indian-administered Kashmir, as well as in Azad Kashmir on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan.
The reports came after Islamabad and India both announced a sudden stop to a conflict that had seemed to be spiraling alarmingly. The US said they had also agreed to hold talks on a broad range of issues at a neutral site.
Pakistani Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told Arab News, “the response would be harsh” if India defied the ceasefire agreement.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the armed forces had been given instructions to “deal strongly” with any violations.
Pakistani information minister Attaullah Tarar has said there is “no truth” to Indian claims it had violated the ceasefire.
“This is just the beginning, it’s a bit early to speculate,” Asif said in an interview to Geo News when asked if the ceasefire could open a path to real peace.
“As time passes maybe these types of paths will emerge but at this point it would be premature to pin those kinds of hopes to the problem.”
He added: “When talks begin, maybe some way will be found.”
Earlier in the day, the Indian foreign secretary said the two countries’ military operations’ chiefs had spoken to each other and agreed that all fighting would stop at 5 p.m. Indian time (1130 GMT) without using the word “ceasefire.” The MO chiefs would next speak on May 12, he added.
But within hours, Reuters said blasts were heard in Srinagar and Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir and projectiles and flashes were seen in the night sky over Jammu, similar to the events of the previous evening.
Pakistani witnesses and local media channels also reported firing from India into Pakistan in Azad Kashmir.
“BITTER HISTORY”
The ceasefire announcement came after the Pakistan military said early on Saturday India had attacked three bases in Pakistan with missiles, after which it had targeted multiple bases in India in response, including a missile storage site in India’s north.
India said there was limited damage to equipment and personnel at air force stations in the Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj areas. The military said there were several high-speed missile attacks on several air bases in Indian Punjab, and that India had responded to the attacks.
Saturday’s military confrontation, the worst fighting between the longstanding enemies in decades, followed days of daily clashing since Wednesday through drones and missiles and gunfighting on the Line of control. At least 50 have been killed on both sides.
The latest round of tensions were triggered by a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people on April 22. New Delhi said Islamabad was involved, which denied the allegation and repeatedly said it was willing to participate in a transparent and credible inquiry.
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, having fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, a region split between them, since gaining independence from the former British colonial rule in 1947.
Both nations acquired nuclear weapons in 1998.
– With inputs from Reuters
Pakistanis welcome ceasefire with India but caution against trusting New Delhi
- A trader in Karachi says no one wins in war, warning that conflicts only bring human suffering
- A veterinarian in Islamabad warns India can behave unpredictably even within treaty frameworks
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: People in Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire with India after heavy cross-border missile and drone exchange between the two countries, though some expressed skepticism about New Delhi’s willingness to uphold the truce.
The ceasefire brought an end to one of the most serious military standoffs between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, triggered by a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that killed 26 tourists.
India blamed Pakistan for the incident and launched missile strikes on what it called “terrorist camps” in five Pakistani cities. Islamabad denied involvement and retaliated by targeting Indian military sites.
The hostilities escalated until Washington brokered a truce, announced Saturday by US President Donald Trump.
“Look, the ceasefire announcement has been beneficial for both countries,” said Abbas Raza, a trader in Karachi, while speaking to Arab News. “Who wins when there’s loss? No one wins in loss. People only suffer.”
Muhammad Shehbaz, a local businessman in the city, said Pakistan had exercised restraint for days despite repeated “Indian provocations.”
“India was pushing, trying to provoke Pakistan into escalating the conflict,” he said. “They kept at it, but Pakistan showed restraint again and again.”
“Then yesterday, when Pakistan carried out a retaliatory strike, they were shaken within three hours,” he continued. “They were brought to their knees. And today, they called in Trump and agreed to a ceasefire.”
Zubia Mehfooz, a woman visiting Karachi, said she had been unable to return to the United States, where her family lives, due to the airspace shutdown caused by the conflict.
“I was here for some work and got stuck,” she said. “I have a flight Monday morning. There’s never an issue from our [Pakistani] side. You know where the issue comes from. If the ceasefire holds, it’s a very good thing.”
But in Islamabad, some urged caution, citing past episodes.
“We don’t fully trust India’s statements,” said Muhammad Farhan Hameed, a veterinarian. “Past experiences have shown this. Many treaties have been signed before, but sometimes they behave unpredictably and break from what was agreed.”
