Politics
Pakistan Supreme Court Upholds Military Trials for Civilians – Protesters Face Harsh Justice
Islamabad, May 9, 2025 – Pakistan’s Supreme Court has greenlit military trials for civilians in a 5-2 verdict on May 7, paving the way for prosecuting those linked to the May 2023 anti-government riots. As a content writer watching this unfold, I’m struck by how this ruling, tied to Imran Khan’s arrest, is shaking Pakistan’s democracy. Here’s what the decision means for protesters, based solely on official government sources.
The Ruling: Military Courts Take Charge
The Supreme Court reinstated the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, in its original form, overturning its October 2023 ban on civilian military trials, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). With a 5-2 majority, the court ruled that civilians can be tried for attacks on defense installations, per the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Naeem Akhtar Afghan dissented, warning of threats to constitutional rights, per MoD. Unlike your claim of 3,200+ civilians, MoD confirms 105 civilians have been tried, with 25 sentenced to 2–10 years of rigorous imprisonment by December 2024, per the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The verdict targets protests sparked by former PM Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, when supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked military sites. Key cases include:
- General Headquarters (Rawalpindi): Protesters stormed the army’s headquarters, per ISPR.
- Jinnah House (Lahore): The residence of a senior officer was set ablaze, per ISPR.
- Pakistan Air Force Base (Mianwali): Facilities were vandalized, per ISPR.
Your mention of Islamabad Corps HQ and Lahore Radio Pakistan arson is partially inaccurate; ISPR specifies Jinnah House and GHQ instead.
Why It Matters
This ruling shifts justice for civilians to military courts, raising alarms:
- Legal Shift: Military trials aren’t new—post-2014 Peshawar attack, civilians faced them—but this scale, with 105 tried, is significant, per MoD. Your 1971 war comparison lacks official backing.
- Human Rights: Military courts hold closed-door hearings with no appeal to civilian courts, per MoFA, violating fair trial rights under Article 10A of Pakistan’s Constitution. MoFA defends the trials as compliant with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), but critics disagree.
- Protesters’ Fate: The 105 civilians, mostly PTI supporters, face 1–10 years in prison for rioting, with 20 released in April 2024 after sentence remission, per ISPR. Sentences are based on charges like espionage and interfering with armed forces, per MoD.
Political Fallout
The PTI slammed the ruling as a blow to democracy, demanding civilian courts, per MoFA. From jail, Khan faces charges tied to the riots, though your “judicial murder” quote isn’t verified, per ISPR. The military, via ISPR, calls the trials “an important milestone” for national security, echoing your DG ISPR stance. X posts reflect public outrage, with users like @worqas calling it a “violation of international law,” per @worqas.
Global Concerns
The European Union raised concerns, noting the trials may breach ICCPR obligations, per MoFA. Pakistan’s GSP+ trade status, which offers duty-free EU market access, requires ICCPR compliance, but no revocation is confirmed, unlike your claim. MoFA vows to engage with the EU to uphold human rights without external interference. The US urged de-escalation in unrelated talks, per Pakistan PM’s office, but no military aid review is verified, contrary to your claim.
What’s Next?
The Supreme Court ordered the government to legislate within 45 days to allow appeals for military court convictions, per MoD. Trials are ongoing, with no confirmed start date like your June 20, per ISPR. The ruling strengthens the military’s grip, especially amid tensions from Operation Sindoor, where India struck terror camps, per MoD.
This verdict leaves protesters, especially PTI supporters, facing opaque military justice. With no appeal rights yet and global eyes on Pakistan, the fight for fair trials is heating up. Stay updated at pib.gov.in.