Latest news with #MilitaryAct
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
146 May 9 accused released by courts
Two years have passed since the protests on May 9 and 10, 2023 that had erupted in response to the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. However, 58 individuals accused in connection with the violent vandalism remain absconding and have yet to appear before the courts. According to official sources within the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, the Prosecution Department has released detailed records of the cases currently being heard in Peshawar's Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) related to the May 9 and 10 events. The prosecution's data reveals that 42 accused had been discharged by the courts while 146 individuals had been acquitted due to lack of evidence. Cases against 276 accused remain under trial in various ATCs. The accused are facing charges at multiple police stations including Landi Kotal, Jamrud, Ghalanai, East Peshawar, Faqirabad, Khan Raziq, Hayatabad, and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Peshawar. Some of these cases continue to be heard in ATCs. The ATCs have officially declared the 58 individuals evading arrest as absconders and issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them. It is worth noting that widespread protests had broken out across the province, particularly in Peshawar, Mohmand, and Khyber, following Imran Khan's arrest. Several incidents involved attacks on public and private properties. Consequently, hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, including many current members of the provincial assembly, were named in these cases. According to sources, despite the passage of two years, authorities are yet to apprehend the 58 fugitives and their arrest warrants remain active. Last year in December, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had stated that attacks on military installations would be tried in military courts and urged the PTI to refrain from politicising or disputing the matter. During a press conference in Islamabad, he criticised the PTI for using military courts as a political tool, aiming to create a controversy around them. He clarified that military courts only handled cases involving attacks on the defence establishment, citing incidents such as the attacks on the Corps Commander's House, Mardan, and Bala Hisar. "When an attack is carried out on a defence institution or its property is set ablaze, it becomes the responsibility of the relevant authorities to apprehend the culprits. Just as railway police handle crimes on railway premises, military courts address offences targeting military assets. So when attacks on military assets occur, the Military Act is enforced", he explained. While highlighting the PTI's shifting stance, he recalled that during Imran Khan's tenure, military court trials were praised. "Statements praising military courts from the PTI's leadership are still available on social media. Yet now, the same individuals are lobbying internationally against these courts," Tarar remarked.
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
ICAs against verdict on military courts: Short order from SC CB expected
ISLAMABAD: The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court will resume hearing of federal government's intra-court appeals against the judgment on military courts from tomorrow (May 5). It is likely that after the arguments of Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), a seven-judge Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan may pass a short order. The bench on December 13, 2024 conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce reserved verdicts of 86 civilians who were still in custody for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots in 2023. Convictions by military courts: Deliberations under way on right of appeal, SC told Following the permission the military courts on December 21, 2024 sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from 2 to 10 years for their involvement in violent attacks on military installations during the May 9 riots. A week later, another 60 civilians were handed jail terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in the nationwide riots. On January 2, the mercy petitions of 19 convicts involved in the May 9 cases were accepted on humanitarian grounds. However, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on January 2, 2025 in a statement announced that a total of 67 convicts had submitted mercy petitions, with 48 of these petitions processed to Courts of Appeal. It added that the petitions of 19 convicts had been accepted 'purely on humanitarian grounds, in accordance with law. AGP Mansoor Usman Awan on the last hearing had submitted that he would provide further detail of May 9 incidents. He said the second part of his arguments would address the assurances given during the hearing of the main case, while the third point would pertain to the right of appeal. The AGP told that he would complete his arguments within 45 minutes. The Attorney General informed that granting the right of appeal to those facing military trials was a policy matter, and that he would present submissions on the matter after seeking instructions. He stated that due to Indus canals and India's recent actions following Pahalgam he remained busy. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail remarked that Parliament could make whatever policy decisions it deemed fit, whether to amend the Pakistan Army Act or not, but the court's focus would remain limited to the present case. The Attorney General said he had merely presented his submissions, and that it was up to the court to decide whether to grant additional time. He further pointed out that the relevant provisions in the Military Act had existed since 1967. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan cancels plan to approach ICJ over India's actions: AGP
Listen to article Pakistan's Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan said on Monday that the government had deferred its scheduled move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding India's recent actions following Pahalgam, citing shifting priorities. "Today we were supposed to proceed to the ICJ over India's actions, but it has been cancelled," Awan informed the top court during hearings of intra-court appeals challenging convictions of civilians by military courts. During the hearing, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the court and presented arguments on three points. The Attorney General stated that Khawaja Haris, the lawyer for the Ministry of Defence, had already presented arguments on the events of May 9, and he too would provide some details on the matter before the court. He said that the second part of his arguments would address the assurances given during the hearing of the main case, while the third point would pertain to the right of appeal. The Attorney General informed the court that granting the right of appeal to those facing military trials was a policy matter, and that he would present submissions on the matter after seeking instructions. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail remarked that Parliament could make whatever policy decisions it deemed fit, but the court's focus would remain limited to the present case. The Attorney General said he had merely presented his submissions, and that it was up to the court to decide whether to grant additional time. He further pointed out that the relevant provisions in the Military Act had existed since 1967. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked how much time the Attorney General would require for his arguments. The Attorney General responded that he would complete his arguments within 45 minutes. The hearing was adjourned until May 5.
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
APS, May 9 incidents dominate CB hearing
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday called into question the distinction between the 2014 APS terrorist attack and the May 9 protests, asking how the treatment of civilians involved in both incidents differed. Justice Musarrat Hilali made the remarks during the hearing of the case pertaining to the trial of civilians in military courts, A seven-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the intra-court appeal against military trials of civilians. During the proceedings, ex-chief justice Jawwad S. Khawaja's counsel, Khawaja Ahmad Hussain, argued that ordinary civilians were not subject to the Military Act, which applies only to civilian employees of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Justice Hassan Rizvi inquired whether the Army Act applied to attacks on air bases, while Justice Hilali reiterated her concern over the different treatment of civilians in the APS attack and the May 9 protests. Khawaja Ahmad Hussain explained that the APS attack was an act of terrorism, which led to the 21st Constitutional Amendment. Justice Hilali noted that the victims of the APS attack were all civilian children. He maintained that while May 9 suspects should be tried, their cases should not fall under military courts. Justice Aminuddin remarked that the judiciary has the authority to review any law that contradicts the Constitution. Referring to the Pakistan Army's official May 9 statement, Hussain questioned the fairness of military trials, arguing that a victim cannot be both a party and a judge in the same case. Justice Hilali responded that these arguments pertain to the merits of the case, while Justice Aminuddin urged the counsel to focus on legal aspects rather than broader implications. Justice Mandokhail questioned the effectiveness of the 21st Constitutional Amendment, which established military courts for a four-year period, asking whether it had yielded any tangible benefits.
