PTI Labels Military Court Decisions ‘Illegal’, Yet Open to Negotiations with Govt

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly rejected the sentences handed down to civilians by military courts in connection with the May 9 incidents, calling the decisions unconstitutional and illegal. The party is now awaiting the final verdict from the Supreme Court regarding the trial of civilians in military courts.

PTI leader Latif Khosa, speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, emphasized the significance of the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter, describing it as pivotal. He was accompanied by legal expert Salman Akram Raja.

Khosa’s statement came after the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that military courts had sentenced at least 25 accused individuals involved in the May 9 riots to jail. The military’s media wing added that the sentences for the remaining accused would be announced shortly once due process is completed. This decision follows a conditional ruling by the Supreme Court’s constitution bench last week, which allowed military courts to deliver verdicts in the cases of 85 civilians still in custody over their alleged involvement in the riots.

Khosa argued that the verdicts given to the 25 individuals were unconstitutional, noting that the appeals were still pending. He also criticized the trial process, asserting that no decisions should be made while an appeal is under consideration. He expressed a desire for a full bench of the Supreme Court to examine the case, alleging that “influential circles” have the evidence to support their claims.

The PTI leader further questioned the legitimacy of the military courts, describing the trials of civilians as extrajudicial and asserting that justice cannot be served by military tribunals. He also alluded to the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, claiming that it was part of a broader “London plan,” and emphasized that the Supreme Court had previously declared the arrest illegal, as it occurred within the court premises.

Khosa also defended PTI’s position, stating that the party had never been involved in acts of sabotage. He highlighted that PTI protests had always remained peaceful, without any incidents of violence such as broken flowerpots.

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Additionally, Khosa mentioned that 20 individuals had been released as their sentences had already expired, while 25 others were handed 10-year prison sentences. The PTI leaders are now calling for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.

As the party awaits the Supreme Court’s final verdict, PTI leaders reiterated their confidence that civilians should not be tried in military courts, which they described as an insult to the judiciary and a threat to the rule of law.