ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Attorney General (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, asked the Supreme Court on Friday for a month to think about whether or not to give people who tried in military courts the right to appeal.
The AGP said, “This needs to be thought about very carefully. It has to done so that the country’s standing in the world not hurt.”
The AGP made its request at a time when the government questioned about its choice.
The six-person bench made up of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan. Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahia Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik.
The Petition
After arrests made in connection with the violent riots that broke out across the country on May 9, the government announced that those found guilty of damaging and attacking military installations would be tried in military court. Both the government and the army thought this was a low blow.
In response to this ruling, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, former Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, legal expert Aitzaz Ahsan, and five members of civil society, including Piler Executive Director Karamat Ali, asked the highest court to declare the military trials “unconstitutional.”
In this petition, which was brought by his lawyer on his behalf, the former CJP argued that Sections 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Pakistan Army Act were not in line with the Constitution’s basic rights.
Also, five civil society members from different towns, led by Faisal Siddiqi, asked the top court to make it illegal for civilians to tried in military courts.
In the same way, Ahsan’s petition questioned why citizens tried in military courts.
