ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub Saturday rejected the military courts’ verdict in the May 9 cases, saying that the can’t sentence civilian.
In a post to his official X account, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker said: “Military courts cannot lawfully share the judicial power of the State because the armed forces are part of the executive authority of State and the creation of such courts to try civilians for ordinary civil offenses ‘not only militates against the independence of judiciary but it also negates the principle of trichotomy of power which is the basic feature of the Constitution’ (PLD 1999 SC 504).”
The military courts sentenced 25 PTI workers to up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in cases pertaining to May 9 violence and arson. The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) rigorously imprisoned 25 in the first phase, Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) said.
Addressing a press conference after the verdict, Information Minister Attauallah Tarar said that the verdict handed to 25 perpetrators in the May 9 cases by military courts shows the state’s commitment to bringing mastermind and planners before justice.
Omar Ayub termed the sentences announced by military courts against PTI detainees as “repugnant to the norms of justice”.
He added that “the detainees are civilians and cannot be tried by military courts. Military courts trying and sentencing civilians are basically kangaroo courts.”
Convicted individuals
Jan Muhammad Khan son of Toor Khan, Muhammad Imran Mahboob son of Mahboob Ahmad, Abdul Hadi son of Abdul Qayyum, Ali Shan son of Noor Muhammad, Iftikhar son of Iftikhar Ahmed, Ziaur Rehman son of Azam Khurshid, and Dawood Khan son of Shad Khan were handed down 10-year of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the Jinnah House attack.
Faheem Haider son of Farooq Haider, and Muhammad Hasher Khan son of Tahir Bashir were sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment in the Jinnah House attack case.
Similarly, the courts sentenced Muhammad Ashiq Khan son of Naseeb Khan to four years of rigorous imprisonment in the Jinnah House attack case.
Muhammad Bilawal son of Manzoor Hussain, involved in the Jinnah House attack, has been sentenced to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Rehmatullah son of Manjoor Khan and Adnan Ahmed son of Sher Muhammad, involved in the Punjab Regimental Center Mardan attack, have been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Yasir Nawaz son of Amir Nawaz Khan and Syed Alam son of Maazullah Khan, involved in the Punjab Regimental Center Mardan attack, have been sentenced to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Raja Muhammad Ehsan son of Raja Muhammad Maqsood, Umar Farooq son of Muhammad Sabir, involved in the GHQ attack, have been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Anwar Khan son of Muhammad Khan and Babar Jamal son of Muhammad Ajmal Khan, involved in the PAF base Mianwali attack, have been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Muhammad Afaq Khan son of M Ashfaq Khan, involved in the Bannu Cantt attack, has been sentenced to 9 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Dawood Khan son of Amir Zeb, involved in the Chakdara Fort attack, has been sentenced to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Zahid Khan son of Muhammad Khan, involved in the Multan Cantt check post attack was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment.
Khurram Shahzad son of Liaquat Ali, involved in the Multan Cantt check post attack, has been sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Laiq Ahmed son of Manzoor Ahmed, involved in the ISI office Faisalabad attack, has been sentenced to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment.