The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has allowed military courts to pronounce verdicts of civilians allegedly involved in May 9 riots.
However, the bench has put conditions, specifying the verdicts are subjected to final decision on civilians appeals against the Oct 23, ruling of the top court.
A debate has started that what will be future of the PTI after the courts fresh ruling. Many believe it will create further difficulties for the party already in trouble.
As per details, there are around 85 civilians about whom the military courts will announce verdicts. Government claimed these civilians are workers of the PTI. And, as per govt claims, they attacked the army installation on the direction of the PTI’s jailed leader Imran Khan.
The accused, as per law, will be transferred to other courts, said Additional Attorney General.
The courts have already released 20 out of 103 accused and two were further added to them, making the figure 85, as per reports.
Decision maintains the legal process in ongoing cases, the bench said, adding it must ensure that final judgments remain subject to the court rulings. Hence, as per bench ruling, preserving the rights of appellants and the oversight of the judiciary.
Due to winter recess, the Supreme Court had postponed the hearing on the trial of the civilians in military courts.
Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court
Head of the constitutional bench Justice Aminuddin Khan said the suspects who can be accorded concessions in their sentences, should be given so and they must be released.
And, added Justice Aminuddin Khan, the suspects who cannot be released should be moved to jails following the announcement of sentence by the military courts.
Earlier, a seven-judge bench resumed hearing a case related to the trial of more than 100 civilians for their alleged involvement in attacks on army installations on May 9.
Led by Justice Aminuddin, Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali and Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the case. .
It is important to mention here that five-member SC bench had earlier declared that trying the accused civilians in military court is violation of the constitution. The bench comprised Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Ayesha Malik. The said bench announced the verdict before the formation of constitutional bench under 26th constitutional amendment.
