ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted permission for military courts to deliver reserved verdicts in cases involving civilians detained for their involvement in the May 9 riots.
A six-member bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Azhar Hasan Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan heard a series of intra-court appeals (ICAs) challenging its earlier ruling that invalidated the military trials of civilians linked to the May 9 riots.
The bench had previously declared that any actions or proceedings conducted under the Army Act concerning the aforementioned individuals, or others in similar circumstances (including but not limited to Constitution Petition Nos. 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28 and 30 & 35 of 2023 for trial by Court Martial), “are and would be of no legal effect.”
During the proceedings, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan requested the bench to permit military courts to issue verdicts that had been reserved.
The Supreme Court granted permission for military courts to deliver verdicts only in cases where the accused individuals could be released before Eid.
Additionally, the bench instructed the government to release 15 to 20 detained individuals, with a directive to expedite their release three to four days prior to Eid.
The May 9 riots erupted following the arrest of the PTI chief from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), leading to protests by PTI supporters who caused damage to several military and state installations, including the Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House) in Lahore and the gates of the military’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
