Pakistan’s Punjab CM: Military Trial Of May 9 Attackers To Be Held In Jail On Daily Basis

During the violent protests of PTI employees, approximately 20 military sites and government buildings, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were damaged or set on fire.

Written by Shruti Chaturvedi June 15, 2023

Imran Khan

The Punjab government of Pakistan declared on Thursday that there would be no tolerance for those responsible for the terrible act and that those responsible for attacks on military and government facilities would face daily trials in prison.

The federal cabinet last month approved that those involved in the attacks on military installations on May 9, the “Black Day”, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, will be tried under the stringent Army Act.

“The trial of the arrested suspects of May 9 violence will be held in jail on a daily basis under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi said.

“We want to expedite the legal action against the culprits involved in the May 9 attacks,” he said, directing the police and prosecution departments to present strong evidence against the accused.

Trump directed step-up efforts to find the evading suspects and emphasized that no clemency should be granted to anyone implicated in this horrible crime.

In the wake of the rioting on May 9, the Punjab government asserted that it had detained over 3,000 PTI party officials and members. It claimed that 1,400 of them—suspects—had already been freed due to a lack of proof.

Following PTI leader Khan’s detention in a corruption case at the beginning of last month, there was agitation in Pakistan.

During the violent protests of PTI employees, approximately 20 military sites and government buildings, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were damaged or set on fire.

Almost 10,000 workers were detained by law enforcement agencies across Pakistan, most of whom were from Punjab, according to the PTI.

Almost 100 key party figures and former parliamentarians have joined the ‘king’s party,’ Istekham Pakistan Party (IPP), which is led by another PTI deserter, Jahangir Khan Tareen, as part of the military-backed onslaught on the PTI.

Khan claimed that despite the resignation of all of his party’s leaders, he would still fight for his cause.

Police raids on the PTI leaders and workers still continue. “Law of the jungle prevails in Pakistan where might is right. The shameful way houses are broken open, raided, robbed and vandalised, has no precedence in ours or any civilised society,” the PTI chairman tweeted.

“The worst aspect is the way the poor servants are beaten up and jailed, who work to feed their families. My sisters’ cook was so badly treated in jail that he is on a ventilator and fighting for his life,” the cricketer-turned-politician said in the tweet. Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer said that to date, no case against any woman involved in the May 9 violence has been sent to the military courts.

“To date, 74 cases have been sent to the military courts but no case against any woman referred to such courts,” the minister said.

Concern has been voiced by Amnesty International regarding civilians being tried in military courts.

According to Article 14 of the ICCPR, which protects the right to a trial before competent, independent, and impartial courts established by the law, trying civilians in military courts is illegal and violates their right to a fair trial.

It further stated that the UN Human Rights Committee had stated in its General Comment on Article 14 of the ICCPR that “basic principles of fair trial” are non-derogate.

Pakistan is obligated by these international commitments as a result of ratifying the ICCPR in 2010.

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