Pakistan’s Supreme Court has reinstated the Pakistan Army Act in its original form, reversing an earlier ruling that barred military trials for civilians, news reports said. The decision, delivered by a 5-2 majority, permits the prosecution of civilians in military courts under specific conditions.
The verdict follows months of legal proceedings sparked by the May 9, 2023 protests, during which supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan attacked military facilities after his brief arrest on corruption charges. Dozens of civilians were subsequently detained and tried in military courts, drawing criticism from rights groups and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The court declared its previous judgment from October 23, 2023, null and void. It also directed the government to pass legislation within 45 days to allow appeals against military court convictions.
PTI strongly opposed the ruling, calling it a misuse of military law intended for internal armed forces discipline, not civilian trials.
