by Press Trust of IndiaSixteen Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf activists, including a former MP, were handed over to military authorities on Thursday for trial under the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act for allegedly setting fire to the Lahore Corps. Commander’s House, also known as Jinnah House.
On May 9, Violent protests erupted after Khan was arrested by paramilitary Rangers Islamabad High Court Complex. Activists of his party vandalized a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali Airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad, in response to Khan’s arrest. The mob also stormed the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time.
Since the widespread violence, the government has cracked down on Khan’s supporters, arresting thousands and threatening trial before military courts.
“On the orders of the Anti-Terrorism Court, the superintendent of Camp Jail Lahore on Thursday handed over 16 key suspects, including former MLA Mian Akram Usman, to a military commanding officer in the attack on Corps Commander Lahore House, known as Jinnah House,” a Punjab government official told PTI.
He said more than 2,000 people, mostly workers of Khan’s party, had been arrested in connection with the attack on the corps commander’s house. However, the role of these 16 has been proved to be sabotage and arson in the house.
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Khan has claimed that 10,000 workers of his party have been arrested across the country for allegedly attacking military installations and state buildings on 9 May.
The army said that only those involved in attacking military installations would be prosecuted under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
“The commanding officer informed the ATC that the 16 suspected of having committed the crime have become subject to the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and are liable to be investigated and tried by military authorities, in particular court martial,” the official said.
Amnesty International has strongly opposed the decision to try civilians in military courts.
In a statement, the rights body said it has documented a list of human rights violations stemming from the trial of civilians in military courts in Pakistan, including blatant disregard for due process, lack of transparency and forced confessions.
It called on the authorities to immediately reverse the handing over of civilians to the military for trial and stressed that civilians should only be tried in a civilian court using normal criminal laws corresponding to the crime.
Khan also strongly condemned the court martial of civilians, terming it illegal and against the Constitution.
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