Islamabad, Pakistan: The Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court (SC) has permitted military courts to announce verdicts for 85 accused civilians and this announcement is bad news for those who are spreading chaos, and unrest and facilitating it in the country.
The bench was headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan while Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Musarrat Hilali, and Shahid Bilal Hassan were members of the Bench.
This matter was pending for a long time, due to which at least two more May 9 were planned by the anti-national elements but failed as before. Since May 9, 2023, Mutiny, the decision has been awaited and the Pakistan Army endured the long judicial process with great patience but did not back down from its unequivocal stand on May 9. If this decision is examined carefully, it appears to be a good move by the Constitutional Bench and has emerged as a ray of hope.
Although this decision should have been made long ago so that all the incidents of chaos and unrest that have occurred since May 9, 2023, the attacks on the state and the attempts to defame Pakistan internationally could have been averted but it is better late than never.
This decision of the Constitutional Bench will also discourage the terrorists operating in the country, and the elements that are spreading chaos under the guise of politics. This is the right time to trial all those who had been involved in attacking the federal capital and also those who killed Rangers personnel on the night of November 24-25.
It has been stated several times by the government that delays in deciding cases of the May 9 Mutiny encouraged perpetrators, instigators, and facilitators of May 9 because judicial deadlock was favoring them and they were happy of not getting punishment and they had settled in their minds that judicial deadlock would continue for an indefinite period.
Now it is hoped that the decisions of the miscreants against whom the cases are pending in the military courts will start coming on time, which will complete the process of punishment. This will also have a big advantage and when these miscreants and terrorists are punished, the path of future incidents like May 9 and November 24-26 will be prevented.
This decision will also tighten the circle around the facilitators and planners of May 9 and will help in bringing them to justice because real justice will happen only when these planners and facilitators have to be held accountable.
Today’s decision has also recognized the right of civilians to trial in military courts and silenced all the voices that were trying to create this narrative that this cannot happen – now the leadership of Tehreek-e-Insaf, which played a key role in the May 9 incidents will also have to face the consequences of what they had done with the country.
This decision also makes it clear that the public must prevent their family members from becoming fuel for the development of any violent political thought, otherwise the loss will be their own.
It also proves that every person involved in attacking Army-related buildings and installations on May 9 will get the punishment including masterminds, planners, and facilitators of the May 9 tragedy.
During the hearing of the case, Justice Mandokhail categorically said that “Judicial integrity must be respected”. Justice Mandokhail warned against undermining judicial authority, stating, “Do not demean judicial decisions to the extent of calling them flawed.”
Justice Mazhar reiterated the need for detailed information on the May 9 incidents, which include the alleged ransacking of the Corps Commander’s house.