Civilians’ military trial: SC directs AGP to address families’ concerns over meetings with prisoners

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan to address the concerns of the families of the May 9 suspects, who said they could not meet the prisoners.
The order came during the hearing of in-court applications filed against the trials of civilians in military courts who were involved in the May 9 incidents last year.
The hearing was presided over by a seven-member bench headed by Justice Aminuddin and comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan.
“The families said that they do not meet the prisoners. These complaints should be dealt with by the Prosecutor General,” reads the order of the ÚS.
The court then adjourned the hearing to July 11.
The Supreme Court had in May referred the matter and procedure committee for the restoration of the bench following objections raised against the six-member bench.
Former Chief Justice Jawad S Khawaja’s lawyer Khawaja Ahmad Hasan objected to the bench saying that a larger bench should be constituted in light of the remark of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Yahya Afridi.
On 29 January, Justice Tariq Masood recused himself from hearing internal appeals against the civilian trial at the military court, leading to the dissolution of the six-judge grand jury.
In October last year, the Supreme Court declared the trial of civilians before military courts unconstitutional and ruled that 103 people and others who may be located in connection with the events of May 9-10 can be tried by criminal courts established under the regular or special law of the land.
However, the SC, by a 5-1 majority, suspended its October 23 order declaring civilian trials in military courts invalid in connection with the May 9 riots.
The events of May 9 and 10 refer to violent protests that erupted in various parts of the country following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in a corruption case last year, when alleged supporters of the party attacked and looted government and military facilities.