Pakistan’s Supreme Court has demanded detailed accounts of military trials of civilians, questioning the evidentiary procedures followed in convictions.
A seven-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the appeals against the trials of civilians under the Army Act.
During the proceedings, Justice Hassan Rizvi noted that the court aimed to review the way evidence was evaluated in these cases.
He stressed that natural justice demands that no one be punished without being heard.
Representing the Ministry of Defence, senior lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that the military courts adhered to due process and followed established procedures.
He argued that constitutional amendments were necessary to include civilians within the scope of military trial provisions.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar stressed the importance of fair trials, questioning whether military courts met those standards.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail questioned whether the amendments to the Army Act adequately dealt with criminal activities involving civilians.
The court sought data on all civil cases tried under military law, excluding those related to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.
19 people found guilty of May 9 riots granted pardon: ISPR
Earlier this month, pardon applications filed by 19 people convicted for their involvement in the May 9 protests were approved, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday.
“Following the promulgation of the sentences imposed on the convicts for the May 9 tragedy, they exercised their right to appeal and requested pardon/remission of their sentences,” the military’s media wing said.
The ISPR further said that a total of 67 convicts had submitted mercy petitions, of which 48 were taken to the appellate courts. He added that the requests of 19 convicts had been accepted “for purely humanitarian reasons, in accordance with the law.”
“They will all be released after the completion of procedural formalities,” the statement continued.
The press release also mentions that the requests for pardon of the other convicts will be decided in due time, following the legal proceedings. He stressed that all those found guilty retained their right to appeal and pursue other legal remedies in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
“The remission of sentences demonstrates the strength of due process and fairness, which ensures that justice is done while taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy,” the ISPR concluded.
The following people had their sentences remitted:
- Muhammad Ayaz, son of Sahibzada Khan
- Sami Ullah, son of Meer Dad Khan
- Laeeq Ahmed, son of Manzoor Ahmed
- Amjad Ali, son of Manzoor Ahmed
- Yasir Nawaz, son of Ameer Nawaz Khan
- Said Alam, son of Maaz Ullah Khan
- Zahid Khan, son of Muhammad Nabi
- Muhammad Suleman, son of Said Ghani Jan
- Hamza Sharif, son of Muhammad Azam
- Muhammad Salman, son of Zahid Nisar
- Asher Butt, son of Muhammad Arshad Butt
- Muhammad Waqas, son of Malik Muhammad Khalil
- Sufayan Idrees, son of Idrees Ahmed
- Muneeb Ahmed, son of Naveed Ahmed Butt
- Muhammad Ahmed, son of Muhammad Nazir
- Muhammad Nawaz, son of Abdul Samad
- Muhammad Ali, son of Muhammad Boota
- Muhammad Bilawal, son of Manzoor Hussain
- Muhammad Ilyas, son of Muhammad Fazal Haleem
