Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Friday remarked that Pakistan Army Act applied to civilians.
A seven-member bench headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi heard petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
The CJP, while citing Justice Shah, said that the army is directly affected related to the matters like national security.
“Provoking serving army officer for conspiracy against national security was a serious crime,” the CJP remarked, adding that reviewing Army Act clauses was not needed.
The report submitted by the Punjab advocate general showed that detention orders for 2,258 people were issued under the Maintenance of Public Order, adding that 21 were in jail.
The report also revealed that 1,888 people had been arrested in 51 terrorism cases, adding that 500 had been discharged while 232 were on bail. It added that 4,119 had been arrested in 247 other cases, adding that 1,201 people had been discharged while 3,012 were on bail.
During the today’s proceeding, the Punjab government submitted a report in the in the top court detailing the number of people arrested in the province in the aftermath of May 9.
The hearing was later adjourned till 9:30am on Monday (June 26).
The government had decided to try civilians under army laws after enraged protesters belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised army installations following the arrest of their party chief.
On Thursday, the top court sought the record of all those arrested in the country post-May 9.