The Federal Government has informed the Supreme Court that military trials for civilians involved in the May 9 mayhem, following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a corruption case, have commenced, it was reported by the local media.
According to the report, the trials, taking place in a military court, involve 102 individuals detained for their roles in attacks on military installations and establishments.
The government’s update was revealed in a miscellaneous application, following the Supreme Court’s orders on August 3.
The application emphasized that the accused persons, apprehended under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, have been in custody since May. The government stressed the importance of conducting fair trials to safeguard the interests of the accused.
The Supreme Court, represented by a five-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik, is scheduled to hear pleas challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
The government’s application assured that if convicted, the accused persons could avail remedies under the law.
This development follows the August 3 order by the Supreme Court, wherein then-Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial affirmed the court’s commitment to preventing any unconstitutional moves by the military. The case had faced hurdles, including objections to bench formation and judge recusals. However, the six-member bench eventually heard the petitions, assuring the concerned parties that military trials would not proceed without informing the apex court.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan, former Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, and members of civil society, including Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) Executive Director Karamat Ali, had requested the Supreme Court to declare the military trials “unconstitutional.”
