Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has approached the Supreme Court against the trial of civilians in military courts, days after Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said that the legal process to try May 9 rioters under Army Act had begun.
Riots broke earlier this month as the supporters of the party's chairman Imran Khan went on a rampage against his arrest from the IHC premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case. As the unrest ensued, the protesters torched government and military installations, and attacked an army vehicle in at least one instance.
In its petition with the apex court, the former ruling party termed the trial of civilians in the courts a "clear violation" of the constitutional guarantees of due process and fair trial.
"Such trials are highly deprecated internationally and widely considered as falling short of providing fair trial," the party said in its plea.
The PTI went on to add that the army courts "constitute a violation of Pakistan's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which has been ratified by the country".
Read this too: Legal Process Of Rioters Trial Under Army Act Commenced: COAS
It also said, "trial of thousands of workers of a political party (or a political leader) through such courts is unheard of in the history of this country".
The plea highlighted that "the workers and supporters now sought to be tried through military courts are not part of any terrorist organisation and pose no threat to national security."
The PTI also challenged deployment of the armed forces under Article 245 of the Constitution in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad.
According to the former ruling party, the petition said government's requisition of armed forces in order to quell and repress political opponents to disable them from exercising their constitutional rights is a gross violation of Article 17 of the Constitution.
It also stated in its petition that protests against an unlawful action – Imran Khan's arrest – is now being used as a pretext to launch a crackdown against the country's largest political party and to dismantle it through detention and fear.
Riots broke earlier this month as the supporters of the party's chairman Imran Khan went on a rampage against his arrest from the IHC premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case. As the unrest ensued, the protesters torched government and military installations, and attacked an army vehicle in at least one instance.
In its petition with the apex court, the former ruling party termed the trial of civilians in the courts a "clear violation" of the constitutional guarantees of due process and fair trial.
"Such trials are highly deprecated internationally and widely considered as falling short of providing fair trial," the party said in its plea.
The PTI went on to add that the army courts "constitute a violation of Pakistan's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which has been ratified by the country".
Read this too: Legal Process Of Rioters Trial Under Army Act Commenced: COAS
It also said, "trial of thousands of workers of a political party (or a political leader) through such courts is unheard of in the history of this country".
The plea highlighted that "the workers and supporters now sought to be tried through military courts are not part of any terrorist organisation and pose no threat to national security."
The PTI also challenged deployment of the armed forces under Article 245 of the Constitution in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad.
According to the former ruling party, the petition said government's requisition of armed forces in order to quell and repress political opponents to disable them from exercising their constitutional rights is a gross violation of Article 17 of the Constitution.
It also stated in its petition that protests against an unlawful action – Imran Khan's arrest – is now being used as a pretext to launch a crackdown against the country's largest political party and to dismantle it through detention and fear.