Trial of Civilians by Military Courts Allowed by Pakistan Supreme Court

Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed trial of civilians by the military courts annulling its October 23 ruling in which it had invalidated military trials of civilians.

A six-member Pakistan Supreme Court (SC) bench announced its verdict in 5-1 majority. Justice Musarrat Hilali, the only woman judge on the bench, did not agree.

The recent verdict of the Pakistan Supreme Court allows the military authorities to conduct the trial of over one hundred civilians who were handed over to the military authorities for their involvement in the attacks on the military installation on May 9.

On October 23, a five-member SC bench had declared that trying civilians in military courts for their alleged role in attacks on army installations after the arrest of ex-premier Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 was against the Constitution.