By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party on Tuesday criticised the army for its plan to prosecute those responsible for the violent protests against military installations following Khan’s arrest, saying it is not acceptable for one individual or institution to combine the roles of “judge, jury, and executioner” in a democracy.
Last week, former premier Khan was arrested in Islamabad in connection with a land fraud case, triggering widespread unrest among his supporters. The protests escalated into violence, with demonstrators storming military properties and establishments, setting fire to a state broadcaster building, damaging buses, looting a top army general’s residence, and attacking various assets.
The situation deteriorated to the point where the army had to be deployed in multiple cities. The law enforcement authorities apprehended hundreds of individuals, and, at least six people lost their lives in violence.
The military held a special meeting of its top commanders in to events and announced its intention to try those involved in the violence under the relevant Pakistani laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act.
“We believe that combining the roles of ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ in one individual or institution not only contradicts the fundamental principle of justice but also has a negative impact on the overall administration of justice and has no place in a civilized, democratic, and constitutional order,” said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in a statement.
“The PTI firmly upholds the supremacy of law and the constitution and considers individual or institutional biases, undue haste in the execution of laws, and the overlooking of facts due to power and authority as unequivocally detrimental to the state and social order.”
The PTI defended the right of its supporters to engage in peaceful protests following what they perceived as Khan’s “abduction. The party said the demonstrations had been infiltrated by armed anarchists as part of a premeditated strategy.
The PTI also claimed to possess evidence suggesting the involvement of officials from intelligence agencies in acts of arson and gunfire but refrained from singling out any specific agency.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations have also expressed opposition to trying civilians under military laws in Pakistan. The Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, Dinushika Dissanayake, called it alarming that the Pakistani Army has expressed its intention to subject civilians to military laws, possibly through military courts. “Trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law,” she added.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also voiced its objection to “the use of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secrets Act 1923 to try civilians.”
While the organization believes that those responsible for arson and damage to public and private property during the recent protests should be held accountable, it insists that they are entitled to due process.
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