Vandalism has become a trend: SC judge

One of the members of a Supreme Court's constitutional bench (CB) has observed that resorting to acts of vandalism during public protests has become a sort of "trend" and "culture".

"During the May 9 incidents, individuals broke into a house and smashed TV screens with sticks. The footage of the May 9 incidents was also aired on TV channels. Corps Commanders' houses were stormed and vandalized [in these riots].

"The same happened in Bangladesh, and looting also occurred in Syria—arson and destruction have become a trend, a culture nowadays," said Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi.

Justice Rizvi was part of the seven-member CB that on Tuesday resumed hearing the intra-court appeals filed against an October 2023 order of the Supreme Court, proscribing the trial of May 9, 2023 rioting accused in military courts.

On May 9, 2023 violent protests broke out after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The civil and military leadership later decided to hold trials of over 100 of the accused--mostly PTI leaders and workers--in military courts under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952.

A five-member larger bench of the SC, however, declared these trials illegal on October 23, 2023 while also annulling some provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. The government later filed an intra-court appeal against the SC verdict which the CB is currently hearing.

Talking with reference to the attack on Lahore corps commander's house during May 9 riots, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail remarked that entering a common citizen's house is also a crime.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi asked whether there had ever been attacks on corps commanders' houses anywhere in the world. PTI's barrister Salman Akram Raja responded that such incidents had occurred and offered to provide examples.

Justice Mandokhail expressed concern that parliament seemed occupied with other matters, while the issues being discussed in court should be addressed by the legislature.