Pakistan's top court strikes down civilian trials in military courts

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday said military trials of civilians arrested for their alleged involvement in violence in May this year were unconstitutional, and declared them null and void.

A five-judge bench of the top court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan announced the verdict with a 4-1 majority, saying that the Constitution gives citizens right to fair trial.

Scores of people were held following the violence on May 9, which included attacks on military installations, when former Premier Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case. Some of them faced military trials under the Army Act.

Since then, Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has faced a crackdown, with thousands of workers said to be behind bars and several key leaders leaving his side.

Khan is also facing trial in an official secrets acts case, and is currently being held in a prison near Islamabad.

The PTI denies involvement in attacks on public and private property, and terms the violence a conspiracy against the party.