ISLAMABAD: While cases involving other individuals involved in the same incident are being tried in anti-terrorism tribunals, the Supreme Court judges have questioned the government’s justification for trying civilians in military courts.
During the hearing on Thursday, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan stated, “The cases against 103 accused in the May 9 incidents were tried in military courts, while the rest are being tried in anti-terrorism courts.”
The comments were made during the hearing of intra-court appeals against the trial of civilians in military courts by the constitutional bench, which was presided over by Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan.
In a unanimous decision rendered by a five-member panel on October 23 of last year, the supreme court ruled that 103 individuals should be tried in civilian tribunals and ruled that civilian trials in military courts were invalid.
