SC resumes hearing pleas against military trials of civilians
May 9 riots caused Rs2.5bn loss to property, Rs1.5bn to military installations: AGP
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan has presented details of the May 9 attacks in the Supreme Court, as it resumes hearing into the petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
A six-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday resumed hearing petitions against the military trials of civilians suspected on involvement in May 9 vandalism,
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial is heading the larger bench which consists of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A Malik.
On Tuesday, the apex court had rejected the federal government’s request to constitute a full court bench to hear a set of pleas challenging the trial of civilians in the military courts.
CJP Bandial told Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan: “Judges are not available at this time. It is not possible to form a full court.”
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan presented details of the May 9 attacks in the court, saying that on that day, military installations across the country were attacked almost simultaneously.
The Corps Commander House Lahore was severely damaged, he said, adding 62 spots were attacked in Punjab in which 52 people were injured.
He further told the court that the May 9 incidents caused a loss of Rs2.5 billion to property, while the damage to the military installations was about Rs1.5 billion.
The AGP further told the court that 149 vehicles were damaged on May , and also presented the photos of events of May 9 and 10 in the court.
He claimed that the attackers entered the GHQ by damaging its gate number one, and vandalized the soldier of a statue inside.
The attack on Corps Commander’s House in Lahore took place at 5:40pm, AGP Awan told the court, adding that the attacks on sensitive military installations on May 9 were carried out between 3pm and 7pm.
The Hamza camp at ISI Office Rawalpindi was also attacked as well as the Signals Mess and the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology.
Violent incidents also took place in Chaklala, Rawalpindi, while petrol bombs were used and the Corps Commander’s office damaged.
A mosque inside the Corps Commander House was also damaged, the AGP told the court, and also presented a picture of a suspected attacker who allegedly stole the uniform of the Corps Commander Lahore and put it on.
On Tuesday, the apex court had rejected the government’s request for the formation of a full court bench to hear the petitions against trial of civilians in military courts.
