'Undeclared martial law' in Pakistan, says Imran Khan; files plea in SC

Imran Khan the former prime minister of Pakistan has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the government invoking Article 245 in several provinces terming it undeclared martial law PTI reportedAccording to PTI under Article 245 of Pakistans Constitution the army can be called in to aid the civil administration to defend the country Khan has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the invoking of Article 245 in Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Balochistan and Islamabad and calling it undeclared martial lawIn his petition the 70yearold Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI chief said the arrests investigations and trial of citizens under the Army Act 1952 were unconstitutional and void and of no legal effect and amounts to negation of the Constitution the rule of law and independence of the judiciaryHe said that the dismantling of PTI through forcible quitting of party membership and office are unconstitutional and void being against Article 17 of the Constitution the Dawn newspaper reportedKhan also urged the apex court to order the formation of a judicial commission to probe the violence that erupted on May 9 The plea named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz expresident Asif Ali Zardari Foreign Minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other as respondents the report saidPrime Minister Sharif has said the attackers of May 9 attacked the idea and identity of Pakistan and gave the enemies of the country reasons to celebrate I dont see the tragic incidents of May 9 as merely a protest that became violent The designs of those who planned them were actually very sinister he tweeted on ThursdayAlso readPak considering banning Imran Khans party TehreekeInsaaf Defence MinisterThere was a clear buildup to the shameful incidents as the whole nation witnessed in utter disbelief and a state of shock how the lust of some people for power made them do what was never done before he said Sharif said the tragic and heartrending events of May 9 were a wakeup call We have to identify and expose all such people who want to destroy the foundations of Pakistan May 9 has drawn up a dividing line between the protectors and builders of Pakistan and those who wish to weaken it he saidOn May 9 violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court IHC premises His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations including the Lahore Corps Commanders House the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khans arrestThe mob also stormed the Army headquarters GHQ in Rawalpindi for the first timePolice put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel Thousands of Khans supporters were arrested following the violence that the powerful Army described as a dark day in the history of the country Several top PTI leaders were also arrested in the wake of the unrestPrime Minister Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in the military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday the government was mulling a possible ban on Khans PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime ministers arrestKhan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a noconfidence vote in his leadership which he alleged was part of a USled conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia China and AfghanistanWith inputs from PTI