May 9 violence: Pak SC declares military trials of civilians ‘null and void’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday declared the trial of civilians in military courts as “null and void” and ordered authorities to conduct the hearing of the cases of former premier Imran Khan’s supporters arrested for their involvement in the May 9 violent protests in ordinary criminal courts.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan in its short verdict ordered that 102 accused arrested under the Army Act be tried in the criminal court.

The court, which announced its verdict within hours after it was reserved during the day at the conclusion of the hearing.

The bench comprising Justices Ahsan, Muneeb Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, Mazahir Naqvi, and Ayesha Malik - announced its verdict on a dozen petitions challenging the trial of more than 100 civilians in military courts following the unprecedented violence in the country after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9.

The pleas were filed by former PM Imran Khan, the SC Bar Association, eminent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja and members of the civil society among others.

The bench heard the pleas against the announcement by the government that those involved in attacks on military installations on May 9 would be tried under military laws.

The then PM Shehbaz Sharif-led cabinet had decided that the protesters who vandalised military installations on May 9 would be tried under the Army Act and Official

Secrets Act.