Aitzaz Ahsan approaches Supreme Court against military trial of civilians

Barrister Aitzaz, a senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party and a well-known lawyer, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the trial of civilians in military courts.

According to the details, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has filed his application through senior PPP leader and well-known lawyers Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja.

Speaking to the media on the occasion of filing the petition in the Supreme Court, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said that the military court can be applied to the soldiers according to the Pakistani Act. But no civilian can be tried in military courts. After Liaquat Hussain’s verdict, no military court was held for 15 years. But the attack on Army Public School on December 16, 2016, was a heinous conspiracy in which more than 150 children were brutally killed. A voice was raised throughout the country and it was said to set up military courts and try them. According to the constitution, military courts could not be set up, in view of this tragedy, the 21st amendment to the constitution was made to set up military courts.

Aitzaz Ahsan said that the constitution created space and gave space to military courts and that they should establish military courts. The duration of this constitutional amendment was set at two years, meaning that the amendment will expire automatically. After two years, it was realized that too many cases were still pending, so the law was relaxed for another two years. Then in January 2019, the term of military courts ended. Now on May 9, very sad actions took place, military properties were burnt and vandalized. I do not advocate for them.

He said that among the requests to the Supreme Court, civilians who attacked military installations should not be tried in military courts. If they have committed a very heinous crime, there are anti-terror courts, you can try those civilians there.

Aitzaz Ahsan said that military courts have two or three characteristics. But when the session court or any other court punishes someone, they have to write down all the arguments that are given during the hearing of the case. While military courts are guilty or not guilty, there are no arguments. When arguments are not given, there can be no justice. Therefore, I have approached the Supreme Court against the establishment of military courts.