PTI terms the trials of ‘civilians in the military courts a blatant violation of justice’
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Dec 26 (SABAH): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced challenging the military court convictions of its workers and supporters, terming the trials of “civilians in the military courts a blatant violation of justice”.
“A judicial commission should be constituted to probe the May 9 events and November 26 crackdown on PTI protesters,” PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Thursday.
The remarks came shortly after 60 more “culprits” were handed prison terms by the military court for their involvement in the May 9 riots, taking the total number of convicts to 85.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that appeals will be filed against these sentences individually as well, urging the Supreme Court of Pakistan to decide the case related to military trial soon.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said that Imran Khan has also condemned the sentences of civilians by military courts, saying that they cannot convict civilians.
“Article 7 of the Constitution contains the definition of the state […] parliament, provincial assemblies, National Assembly and Senate are the state,” he said, adding that the military and other institutions are “under the state.”
Omar Ayub Khan further said the military institution cannot function as judiciary, emphasising that civilians should be tried in civilian courts.
Meanwhile Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza has said that the PTI will formally give the government time until January 31 to conclude ongoing negotiations.
Flanked by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza told a press conference outside Adiala Jail that the party had settled on a January 31 deadline for the talks.
“The cut-off date for negotiations is January 31,” Raza said. “On January 2, when our committee meets the government to continue the negotiations, Omar Ayub will formally give them this deadline.”
The SIC chairman continued: “This is the first time since 1971 that a political party has been victimised like this. The PTI’s fundamental rights were suspended, our members were tortured and our civil rights and human rights have been stripped. “As a result, our call to halt remittances will remain in place,” Raza added.
The SIC chairman said that Imran was willing to “forgive” the acts of violence carried out against him. He also emphasised that the party’s demands remained the same, namely judicial probes into the events of May 9, 2023, and November 27 and the release of incarcerated PTI workers and members.
“We are held responsible for May 9 by the other side, we categorically say we are not responsible and the other side is,” he said. “To resolve this issue we need a judicial commission by the SC’s senior-most judges so that there is a comprehensive investigation.”
Speaking about November 26, Raza said “We maintain that live rounds were fired (by the authorities) and have our exact data shows that to date, 13 people have been killed, 64 bullet injuries have been recorded and between 150 and 200 people are missing.”
Demanding an inquiry, The SIC chairman called the state’s heavy-handedness “An attack on Pakistan’s people and democracy“ and said that those who ordered authorities to fire on PTI supporters were responsible. Raza also reiterated that jailed PTI workers must be released.