Military trials of civilians: Interim Sindh govt denies filing plea against SC verdict

KARACHI: The caretaker Sindh government on Saturday denied approaching the Supreme Court against its judgment declaring the trials of civilians in military courts unconstitutional, Geo News reported.

“The Sindh government has not filed any appeal in the Supreme Court on military trials. The [claims] are baseless,” said spokesperson for interim Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar.

On November 16, it was reported that the interim government in Sindh and Shuhada Forum, Balochistan, separately requested the Supreme Court to set aside its judgment on the military court trials.

Moreover, the provincial advocate general also rejected reports of filing a plea to the top court against its October 23 judgment, declaring the military trial of civilians arrested in connection with the May 9 mayhem null and void.

A day earlier, the caretaker federal and provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan filed intra-court appeals against the judgment that was hailed by lawyers and civil rights activists.

Besides the Centre and provincial governments, the Ministry of Defence also appealed to the top court to revoke its October 23 ruling and restore the sections of Official Secrets Act that were declared illegal.

On October 23, a five-member bench of the top court declared civilians’ trials in military courts null and void as it admitted the petitions challenging the trial of civilians involved in the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in a corruption case.

The SC’s larger bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising Justices Munib Akhtar, Yayha Afridi, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Ayesha A Malik had announced the verdict.

The top court also held that 103 persons and others who may be placed in relation to the events arising from May 9 and 10 could be tried by criminal courts established under the ordinary or special law of the land.

The PTI and others approached the Supreme Court against the military trials on the grounds that they lack transparency.

The decision to use military courts was taken by the government of Shehbaz Sharif, who has since completed his term in August and handed over to a caretaker government that will oversee an election slated for January.

Hundreds of Imran Khan supporters stormed military and government installations, and even torched Corps Commander’s house in Lahore, following the former premier’s brief arrest.