Islamabad: After the military said it would try the May 9 vandals under the Pakistan Army Act of 1952 and the Official Secrets Act of 1923, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement on Wednesday against the use of these laws.
The human rights group asked that people held responsible for the damage done in cities . As well as that “due process” be given to civilians who found to have damaged public and private property. It included military property, after protesters broke into cantonment areas.
The group, which works to protect human rights and democratic principles, posted its statement on Twitter.
“HRCP is very against using the Pakistan Army Act of 1952 against civilians . As well as the Official Secrets Act of 1923 to try citizens in court. “Those who set fires and damaged public and private property during the recent protests should held accountable. But they still have the right to a fair trial,” the human rights group said in a tweet.
In the tweet where it said it didn’t agree with using military laws against civilians. It also said that people who have already tried under these laws should have their cases moved to civil courts.
“All civilians who tried in the past under these acts should also have their cases moved to civil courts,” they said in a tweet.
The arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan last week led to violent protests. On Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the military had decided to try attackers under the military’s acts.
CCC
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir presided over a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters, where the top military leaders promised to try protesters and those who helped them under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act as they stormed military installations.
A statement from the ISPR said, “The forum made it clear that those responsible for these heinous crimes against military installations, personnel, and equipment will brought to justice through trials under relevant Pakistani laws, such as the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.”
The party run by Khan, PTI, also thinks the statement is “extremely important” and has asked for a probe into what happened last week.
