Imran Khan | Preparations complete for my ‘court martial’: Imran Khan

Islamabad: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan said that preparations have been completed for his “court martial”. Earlier, the country’s powerful military had said the “conspirators” of the May 9 violence would be tried by military courts. A day earlier, the country’s Home Minister Rana Sanaullah had blamed Khan for the May 9 violence. Also read: Violence had spread across the country following Khan’s arrest in a corruption case. Khan was talking to reporters on Thursday after appearing before the Islamabad High Court in connection with 10 different cases. Khan (70), who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said he knew he would be tried by a military court. He described the trial of a civilian in a military court as “the end of democracy” and “the end of justice” in Pakistan. “Trial in a military court would be illegal,” Dawn newspaper quoted Khan as saying. Khan said, “They know that the more than 150 cases against me are baseless and there is no chance of my conviction in these fake cases, so they have decided to try me in a military court.” Khan dispelled speculations of being sidelined within the party and also rubbished rumors of leaving Pakistan. “I don’t have money to live in another country because the British pound has crossed Rs 400 (Pakistani) and I can’t afford to live there,” he said. Khan also dismissed rumors of an “acrimonious” meeting with PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and said he had cordial relations with the former foreign minister. Earlier, Khan stayed at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office in Rawalpindi for four hours and answered the bureau’s questions in detail in the Al Qadir corruption case.(Agency)