The Punjab government on Friday submitted an incomplete report before the Supreme Court regarding cases registered and suspects arrested for their involvement in violent protests on May 9 after the arrest of PTI chairman.
The apex court had ordered the authorities to provide details of the cases registered during the hearing of pleas challenging the trials of civilians in military court.
The report, however, does not include the data of minors, journalists, lawyers or those in custody, but provided data of the detained women.
According to the report, 81 women were arrested, of whom 42 have been released on bail, while 39 are in jail on judicial remand.
The report said that arrest orders were issued for 2,258 people under the MPO, 3,050 people were found involved in the incidents of vandalism on May 9, while 21 are currently in jail. Under the law, 51 cases were registered against the accused involved in the May 9 incidents.
The report mentions that 1,888 people were arrested under the anti-terrorism law. Of them 108 accused are on physical remand and 1,247 are on judicial remand. Identification parade was held of 33 people under the anti-terrorism law, and 500 people were released as innocent, while 232 people were released on bail.
The report said that 247 cases were registered under other laws and 4,119 people were arrested; 86 accused were sent to physical remand, 2,464 were sent to jail on judicial remand. A total 1,201 people have been acquitted so far, while 3,012 have been released on bail.
Earlier, the Supreme Court resumed the hearing on the constitutional pleas filed by the PTI chairman, former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja, senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) Executive Director Karamat Ali, have requested the apex court to declare the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional.
A seven-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial is hearing the case. Justice Ejazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik are the members of the bench.
The PDM government had decided to try civilians in military courts after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers vandalised army installations following the arrest of their party chief.
Proceedings today
At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui submitted that he had filed a written statement.
Siddiqui, who is representing Piler Executive Director Karamat Ali, said his petition was different from others. “I have not challenged the Army Act and I do not contend that the civilians cannot be tried in military courts."
He said that the trial of civilians in military courts had taken place earlier as well.
Justice Shah inquired why he did not challenge the Army Act.
Advocate Siddiqui said that the trial of "favourite persons" or specific civilians under military laws was wrong and unconstitutional.
He stated that he did not say that any clause of the Army Act was illegal, adding that a verdict against military courts in 1998 did not bring the Army Act under question.
Justice Ayesha asked what principles had been set regarding the Army Act in other cases and what was the basis on which the civilians were being tried under the Army Act.
Justice Shah observed that a trial is conducted under the Army Act and Official Secrets Act when it comes to national security.
He asked Advocate Siddiqui to argue on the law if he hadn't challenged the Army Act.
Advocate Siddiqui submitted that the Army Act is used with malice as the Anti-Terrorism Court was asked to hand over 15 people. Those who will be tried in the Anti-Terrorism Court will have the right to appeal, while those who will be tried in military courts do not have the right to appeal.
He argued that why some people are being treated under prejudice. If there are 60 accused named in an FIR, why 15 are given to military courts, he added.
#supremecourt #umaratabandial
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