Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected sentences handed down by military courts to civilians as Party leader Omar Ayub claimed that military courts have no jurisdiction to try or sentence civilians.
In a tweet, Omar Ayub condemned the military courts’ rulings against the PTI detainees, calling them a violation of justice.
The opposition leader in the National Assembly stressed that those detained are ordinary citizens who cannot be tried in military courts, calling courts that sentence civilians “kangaroo courts” and saying they undermine the principles of justice.
“Military courts are not legitimate judicial partners of the State judiciary. The armed forces are part of the administrative apparatus of the State, not the judiciary,” Ayub said.
He added that the establishment of such courts violates judicial independence and the constitutional principle of separation of powers, undermining the fundamental features of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker and PTI leader Asad Qaiser also denounced the decisions of the military courts, calling them a violation of fundamental human rights.
“These trials have not met the standards of justice,” Qaiser commented as he expressed his disappointment with the Supreme Court’s stance on the matter, vowing to continue the fight for justice.
“Citizens have been deprived of their basic rights. When the courts are compromised, public trust is eroded, leading to widespread despair. The current judicial system is paralyzed, which is a tragedy for the country,” he added.
Qaiser reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to challenge military court verdicts and seek justice through peaceful and legal means.
Earlier today, military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms of between two and ten years in prison for their role in violent attacks on military installations during the nationwide unrest in May 2023.
According to the army’s media wing (ISPR), the General Field Court Martial has sentenced 25 people in the first phase, after thorough review of evidence and completion of proper legal procedures.
“The convicted individuals, involved in attacks on key military sites, including Jinnah House, General Headquarters (GHQ) and Mianwali Pakistan Air Force Base, were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment, with 14 of them receiving 10-year terms and others shorter sentences,” the statement said. the statement said.
Describing the importance of the verdicts, the ISPR referred to the sentences as an “important milestone” in the delivery of justice to the nation. “It is also a stark reminder to all those who are exploited by vested interests and are victims of their political propaganda and intoxicating lies, to never take the law into their own hands in the future,” the statement concludes.
