Sindh govt denies filing plea against SC verdict on military trials of civilians
Sindh government on Saturday denied filing plea against SC verdict on military trials of civilians!
The caretaker Sindh government clarified that it did not approach the Supreme Court against its judgment declaring unconstitutional the trials of civilians in military courts.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s House issued today said the “appeal in ‘Trial of Civilians before Military Courts’ case has not been filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan”.
It added: “The impression that the Sindh government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court for the trial of civilians in military courts is baseless,” said interim Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar’s spokesperson.
It was reported on November 16 that the interim government in Sindh and Shuhada Forum, Balochistan have separately requested the Supreme Court to set aside its judgment on the military court trials.
However, a day earlier, the caretaker federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also challenged the decision.
The Ministry of Defence also appealed to the apex to revoke its October 23 ruling and restore the sections of the Official Secrets Act that were declared illegal.
A five-member bench of the apex court on Oct 23, declared civilians’ trials in military courts null and void as it admitted the petitions challenging the trial of civilians involved in the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in a corruption case.
The SC’s larger bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising Justices Munib Akhtar, Yayha Afridi, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Ayesha A Malik announced the verdict.
The SC also held that 103 persons and others who may be placed in relation to the events arising from May 9 and 10 could be tried by criminal courts established under the ordinary or special law of the land.
