May 9 detainees’ families want CJP to look into military trials

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has been requested by the families of those jailed since the May 9 rallies to form a full bench to consider the cases of their loved ones, many of whom have been in military detention for almost a year.

Additionally, they urged General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to look into the situation and show compassion, pointing out that the majority of people detained in military custody are law-abiding individuals.

Families of the inmates, together with top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists Ali Muhammad Khan, Raoof Hassan, and Barrister Abuzar Niazi, expressed their anguish during a news conference on Wednesday.

Sidra Murtaza described how her brother was moved from police detention to the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and finally to the military after he was detained on May 9 for taking part in a rally.

She bemoaned that the court had not yet rendered a decision or assembled a full bench to consider the families’ claims, but she did convey the families’ faith that the Supreme Court would provide justice.

She also brought up a prior case regarding the Army Public School (APS), in which Chief Justice Isa decided that civilians shouldn’t be prosecuted in military courts. This ruling prompted constitutional modifications with a sunset provision that permitted the prosecution of terrorists in military tribunals.

She emphasized that the Pakistani Constitution guarantees these inmates a fair hearing in civil courts.

Family members expressed their displeasure with the lengthy confinement and lack of openness. Taimoor Majeed revealed that it took them five months to find out that his brother was in military detention. His brother was detained on August 13 for taking part in a demonstration outside the Corps Commander House in Lahore Cantt. His brother had dropped a considerable amount of weight, indicating difficult circumstances, by the time they eventually reunited.

All political parties concur, according to PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan, that civilians shouldn’t be prosecuted in military tribunals. Almost a year has gone by with little to no movement, so he urged the top court to give the matter priority and a larger bench to hear the cases.

The impacted families want the chance to visit their loved ones under more humane circumstances, an open and impartial inquiry, and a fair trial in civil courts.

They reaffirmed that they want justice for their relatives who are suffering from protracted detention and unclear legal status, even if they do not expect favoritism.