Pakistan Government In Favour Of Military Trial Of Civilians

Islamabad
The Pakistan government has defended its decision of military trials of civilians, involved in incidents of violence and vandalism targeted at military installations and government buildings, terming them as a direct attack on the national security of the country.
Submitting the government response in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) where the decision of enforcing trial of culprits in military courts under the Secret Services Act and the Pakistan Army Act; the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) maintained that violence against military and vandalism of army installations was a direct attack on the national security of Pakistan, and was therefore prejudicial to security, interests and defence of the country.
To create deterrence in respect of such attacks, our constitutional framework allows perpetrators of such vandalism and violence to be tried under provisions of the Army Act 1952, stated the government through AGP Mansoor Awan.
The government also related the May 9 violence with terrorism related incidents and events of the past involving Shakeel Afridi and Kulbushan Yadhav, emphasising that recent events are enough evidence to establish the involvement of foreign powers in spreading instability in the country with an aim to weaken the armed forces of Pakistan and the country’s national security.
The government called on the apex court to consider its justification and dismiss all petitions filed against military trial of civilians in connection with the May 9 rioting and vandalism.