Less than two weeks after the May 9 protests in which military assets and facilities in Pakistan were targeted by incensed mobs, Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations [ISPR] issued a press release stating that army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir had said that “legal process of trial against planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators involved in 9 May tragedy has commenced under Pakistan Army Act [PAA] and Official Secret Act as per existing and established legal procedures derived from the Constitution of Pakistan.”

Despite public outrage against the army’s arbitrary decision to try civilians under PPA, Pakistan’s National Assembly dutifully defended Rawalpindi’s contentious decision, maintaining that “Across the world, the right of inquiry against people involved in incidents such as attacks on military installations lie with the army.” This claim in itself is debatable and is tantamount to the victim serving as both the jury and judge during trial of the accused, thereby brazenly violating the fundamental principle of natural justice.

Stating that “It is alarming to note that the Pakistani Army has stated its intention to try civilians under military laws, possibly in military courts,” Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International [AI] Dinushika Dissanayake has rightly pointed out that “Trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law.” [Emphasis added]. In October 2023, a five-member bench of Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared that the trial of civilians in military courts was unconstitutional.

Rawalpindi is nevertheless going ahead and there’s no doubt that come what may, in the end it’ll have its way!

ISPR has........

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