Supreme Court Greenlights Military Trials for Rioters

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved military trials for civilians involved in the May 9 protests, which erupted following the arrest of Imran Khan. A seven-member bench overturned a prior ruling against such trials, emphasizing the need for legal amendments to allow appeals in civilian courts.

In a landmark decision, Pakistan's Supreme Court has sanctioned the trial of civilians in military courts, dismissing earlier judgments that deemed such measures unconstitutional. This move relates specifically to individuals implicated in the May 9 unrest following the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the proceedings, a seven-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, annulled a previous majority ruling from October 2023, which had vetoed military trials as invalid. The new verdict allows the prosecution of over 100 individuals under military jurisdiction, with a directive to amend related laws for granting appeal rights in civilian high courts.

Not all members concurred with the decision; Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Naeem Akhtar Afghan opposed the majority, calling for adherence to civilian judicial processes. Meanwhile, military tribunals have already sentenced 85 PTI supporters to varying prison terms, sparking debate over judicial transparency and human rights.

(With inputs from agencies.)