Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said no new military courts were being set up under the Army Act to try those suspected of involvement in the May 9 violence and their trials would be held in the existing ones.
“None of those accused of involvement in the May 9 riots will be deprived of their fundamental rights,” he added while speaking to journalists in Sialkot.
Following PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 in connection with a corruption case, the country saw violent protests targeting sensitive state and military installations.
The government has since pursued an aggressive crackdown against the party leadership and others alleged of being involved in the vandalism and causing public unrest.
The ruling coalition has also said that protestors will be tried under the Army Act at military courts.
The Army Act of 1952 established military courts primarily to try members of the military or enemies of the state.
Civilians can only be tried there under a federal government order.
Civilians accused of offences such as waging war against the armed forces or law enforcement agencies, or attacking military installations or inciting mutiny, can be tried at military courts.
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The decision to try May 9 suspects in military courts was widely condemned by local and international rights organisations, including from within the ruling coalition, warning that the move was against democratic principles.
PPP stalwart Raza Rabbani opposed military courts and demanded trying the May 9 culprits by the civilian judiciary.
In a recent statement, Amnesty International described the controversial move as alarming and contrary to international law, and demanded it be struck down immediately.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it strongly opposed trying civilians in military courts.
Legal experts believed that if the trials of civilians involved in May 9 attacks on army installations would start in military courts, the European Union would step into action.
The development might affect the GSP trade agreement between Pakistan and the EU.
The defence minister told the media that the law was already present for this purpose.
Asif maintained that the government would not target the innocent.
He added that cases would only be pursued against those identified in video footage of the attacks on sensitive installations.
Terming the May 9 protests as an attack on the “integrity and existence of Pakistan”, the minister condemned these acts of “terrorism”.
He praised the country’s security forces as well as law enforcement agencies, including police and Rangers, for their “unrelenting” efforts in countering terrorism.
Urging the nation to stand in unity, he said people were “well aware” of the forces at play that were trying to polarise the masses and sow seeds of bitterness.
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Asif also said the attackers “can never be patriots”, stressing that he saw “no difference between Indian attacks” and the “violent mob’s attack” on the Lahore corps commander’s residence (originally Jinnah House) and Mianwali Air Base.
“Only an enemy attacks military installations like airbases and the GHQ,” he said, adding that these had been “among India’s targets”.
He regretted that the angry protesters targeted monuments of the country’s martyrs and war heroes.
“One man [Imran] gave a clear message that if I don’t have the power, I will attack where the enemy does. [And then] the military installations including martyrs’ memorials were insulted,” he lamented, while stressing that “protection of Pakistan is our red line”.
“There will be no compromise on the integrity of Pakistan," he pledged.
The minister also visited the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyrs monument) in the nearby town of Chawinda.
He laid floral wreaths on the graves of the martyrs before offering Fateha (prayers) for their souls.
Talking to the media there, he claimed that the PTI was targeting an institution and seeking the assistance of other countries for this purpose.
A day earlier, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir had said that the legal process of trial against planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators involved in the May 9 tragedy has commenced under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act as per existing and established legal procedures derived from the Constitution of Pakistan.
"The army draws its strength from people and any effort to create a wedge between the army and the people of Pakistan is an act against the state which is neither tolerable nor condonable under any circumstances,” the army chief said while addressing the garrison officers and soldiers at Corps Headquarters during his visit to Lahore.
(With input from agencies)
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