text: Imran Khan may be tried for treason » Sirf News
  In a development once again showing how individuals out of power in Pakistan are hounded deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan will now face the provisions of that country's constitution that he had once sought to use against his opponents. This includes possible charges of treason against him, said a media report.
  A bunch of petitions have been filed before various courts of Pakistan, citing the provisions of the constitution that Khan had tried to misuse during his last fortnight in power. He may be tried for treason, reported Pakistani journalist Islam Khabar.
  Even though Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah rejected one of these petitions as "frivolous", the danger looms on Khan, as decisions on other petitions are still pending in the courts.
  For over a month while failing at his attempts to block the no-confidence motion after figuring out that his party was falling short of the majority in the National Assembly, Khan had declared the launch of a "freedom struggle" in the Pakistani parliament within hours of being voted out of power on 10 April.
  Moreover, the Supreme Court had to repeatedly intervene in the process of the no-trust motion by taking note of the rejection of the motion in the National Assembly and summoning all parties for a four-day hearing. Then, dismissing a serious concern from the government's legal wing, Khan sent the Foreign Office diplomatic letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, claiming that a foreign country had sent a threatening message through Pakistan's envoy.
  The relevant provisions of the constitution based on which the petitions have been filed against 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.
  Another article included in the petitions, Article 6, states that any person who abrogates or attempts to abrogate the constitution by use of force shall be guilty of high treason, adding that an act of treason cannot be validated by any court including the Supreme Court.
  Thus, a possible trial against Khan may indict all those who participated in blocking the parliamentary vote, a legitimate exercise under the Constitution. These cohorts include President Arif Alvi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Deputy Speaker Qasim Shah Suri and two former ministers — Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhary.
  However, besides the parliamentary processes, the principal thrust behind the move is from the army that has not taken well to Khan's attempts of implicating. Further, Khan's persistence in a "foreign conspiracy" to implicate the US has also displeased the army.
  At the political level also, the issue will be highlighted after the word has come from self-exiled PML (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif charging Imran Khan with "high treason" and calling for his trial, reported the media outlet.
  The final thrust may come from the army as the statement issued by the army 'huddle' at the 79th Formation Commanders' meeting held on 12 April took note of the "propaganda campaign," and attempted to "divide institution and society," thus hinting at its angry mood.