Knowledge (XXG)

Military Courts (Pakistan)

Source 📝

222:
have urged Pakistan not to prosecute civilians in military courts. They argue that the trial of civilians in military courts is a violation of Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law to ensure the rights of criminals to due process and fair trial. HRW has documented a catalog of
283:
With a majority of 11 to 06 the Constitution Petitions challenging the Twenty-first Amendment and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act (2015) were dismissed. This allowed for the continuation of the military courts. The 6 dissenting judges, who deemed the military courts as unconstitutional, were
234:. The proceedings are conducted within military establishments in secrecy and defendants only have the right to appeal the verdict of a military court to a military appellate tribunal, whose decision in turn is deemed final and cannot even be challenged in the higher civil courts of Pakistan. 223:
human rights abuses stemming from the prosecution of civilians in military courts in Pakistan, including a clear disregard for due process, lack of transparency, coerced confessions, and executions after extremely unfair trials.
101:
were initiated by military courts, and both were sentenced to death. However, with the lifting of martial law in May 1953, the death sentences handed down by the military court were also nullified.
763: 259: 117: 109: 120:
was made to the constitution to allow the military courts to function for two more years. That provision of the amendment expired in January 2019 and hasn't since been renewed.
82:
The history of military courts in Pakistan dates back to the early years of the country's existence. The first military tribunal was set up in 1951 to try the perpetrators of the
255: 955: 273:
With a majority of 13 to 04 the Constitution Petitions were held to be maintainable. Thus allowing for judicial review of the amendments with the view being that of the
323:
invalidated the trial of civilians in military courts. The court ordered that the accused in the May 2023 violence-related cases be tried under ordinary criminal laws.
548: 340: 896: 247: 797:"Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments or Amending the Unamendable? A Critique of District Bar Association Rawalpindi V. Federation of Pakistan" 734:"Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments or Amending the Unamendable? A Critique of District Bar Association Rawalpindi V. Federation of Pakistan" 562: 1098: 967: 124: 1103: 962: 703: 674: 293: 262:
amendments. Namely, the anti-defection and judicial appointment clauses of the former and the military tribunal cover provided in the latter.
650: 524: 796: 764:"Saying not what the Constitution is ... but what it should be: Comment on the Judgment on the 18th and 21st Amendments to the Constitution" 733: 1165: 1113: 1015: 632: 601: 178: 889: 231: 151:. In addition to judges, other military personnel also have a significant influence on the decision-making process within these courts. 127:(JAG) branch of the Pakistan Army in which the judges and prosecutors are all serving military officers with no formal legal training. 1170: 1160: 850: 1057: 198: 1129: 1077: 1067: 882: 362: 1150: 186: 105: 1041: 1108: 1020: 1036: 139:, are operated by military staff, which includes judges and legal professionals. These individuals are members of the 405: 380: 297: 615: 587: 177:, protests spread across the country. In some instances protestors targeted military installations, including the 950: 945: 473: 320: 251: 1072: 1155: 919: 448: 274: 194: 86:
Case. The Military Tribunal sentenced all the convicts in the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case to long imprisonment.
982: 94: 280:
With a majority of 14 to 03 the Constitution Petitions challenging the Eighteenth Amendment were dismissed.
990: 972: 905: 219: 201:
to military courts. This decision was strongly opposed by human rights organizations and legal experts.
83: 67: 63: 1062: 1010: 424: 314: 174: 170: 98: 393: 197:
leaders and workers were arrested in response, of which 102 defendants had their cases shifted from
995: 929: 811: 748: 266: 215: 148: 341:"The trial of civilians in military courts under Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act" 214:
The use of military courts to try civilians has been the subject of controversy and criticism.
1000: 542: 285: 90: 1005: 289: 924: 44: 277:. In essence, providing a check on the power of the parliament to amend the constitution. 227: 1144: 301: 144: 140: 113: 108:
to dispense speedy justice to terrorists. The move was enabled by the passage of the
59: 226:
The opaqueness of the military justice system has been criticized, including by the
265:
The court, in a landmark verdict described by legal experts as the most important
93:, especially in Lahore. Trials of leaders of the anti-Ahmadiyya movement, Molana 160: 74:
as a response to the growing threat of terrorism and insurgency in the country.
498: 116:
of 2 years. In January 2017, at the end of the originally stipulated period, a
182: 166: 616:"Pakistan: Don't Try Civilians in Military Courts | Human Rights Watch" 588:"Pakistan: Don't Try Civilians in Military Courts | Human Rights Watch" 864: 27: 874: 774: 363:"Behind Closed Doors: Pakistan's Military Courts - The Pakistan Gazette" 136: 104:
Military Courts were again set up in Pakistan in the aftermath of the
563:"Pakistan says 102 in military court over ex-PM Khan arrest violence" 190: 89:
In 1953, martial law was declared due to the worsening law and order
851:"SC declares trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional" 825: 394:
http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/18_v21_2_20.pdf
66:
and are set up to try civilians, especially in cases related to
878: 651:"Committee against Torture examines initial report of Pakistan" 525:"Imran Khan arrest updates: Protests after ex-Pakistan PM held" 499:"Imran Khan: Mass protests across Pakistan after ex-PM arrest" 244:
District Bar Association (Rawalpindi) v Federation of Pakistan
865:"Military trials of civilians: SC to take up pleas on Oct 23" 826:"Six judges declare 21st Amendment, military courts illegal" 633:"Pakistan: Civilians must not be tried under military laws" 602:"Pakistan: Civilians must not be tried under military laws" 425:"Military Courts – Performance, Review and Challenges" 1122: 1091: 1050: 1029: 981: 938: 912: 123:The trials in these courts are conducted under the 43: 33: 23: 18: 269:decision in the history of Pakistan, ruled that: 890: 8: 547:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 474:"Former CJ also challenges military courts" 897: 883: 875: 250:" was put before a 17-member bench of the 248:unconstitutional constitutional amendments 70:. These courts were established under the 1078:Excise & Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal 449:"Aitzaz Ahsan challenges military courts" 1099:Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan 627: 625: 429:Center for Research and Security Studies 406:"History of military courts in pakistan" 381:"History of military courts in Pakistan" 254:that challenged specific clauses of the 1104:Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir 332: 540: 356: 354: 15: 7: 1114:High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir 1042:List of district courts in Pakistan 711:International Commission of Jurists 682:International Commission of Jurists 232:International Commission of Jurists 14: 1068:Accountability Courts of Pakistan 704:"Military Injustice in Pakistan" 675:"Military Injustice in Pakistan" 135:Military courts, in contrast to 1130:Judicial Commission of Pakistan 968:Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Court 1: 361:Ullah, Ihsan (June 1, 2023). 110:21st Constitutional Amendment 106:2014 Peshawar school massacre 1109:Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court 1166:Law enforcement in Pakistan 1037:District courts of Pakistan 56:Military courts in Pakistan 1187: 1073:Banking Courts of Pakistan 810:(2018): 13. Archived from 713:. January 2019. p. 11 523:Najjar, Hafsa Adil,Farah. 312: 173:on 9 May 2023 from within 158: 19:Military Courts (Pakistan) 1171:Legal history of Pakistan 946:Supreme Court of Pakistan 747:(2018): 3. Archived from 684:. January 2019. p. 3 321:Supreme Court of Pakistan 252:Supreme Court of Pakistan 205:Controversy and criticism 131:Structure and composition 38:Pakistan Army Act of 1952 1161:Human rights in Pakistan 920:Constitution of Pakistan 275:basic structure doctrine 195:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 246:case, the question of " 95:Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi 367:thepakistangazette.com 125:Judge Advocate General 72:Pakistan Army Act 1952 1123:Appointment of Judges 906:Judiciary of Pakistan 637:Amnesty International 319:In October 2023, the 220:Amnesty International 199:anti-terrorism courts 84:Rawalpindi Conspiracy 1151:Military of Pakistan 315:Military courts case 309:Military Courts Case 187:Corp Commander house 179:General Headquarters 175:Islamabad High Court 930:Pakistan Penal Code 804:Pakistan Law Review 741:Pakistan Law Review 478:The Express Tribune 453:The Express Tribune 294:Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry 292:, Ejaz Afzal Khan, 210:Human rights issues 193:. Several thousand 91:situation in Punjab 996:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 867:. 20 October 2023. 410:pakistanlawyer.com 298:Dost Muhammad Khan 267:constitutional law 216:Human Rights Watch 1138: 1137: 1092:Territorial Court 963:AJK Supreme Court 529:www.aljazeera.com 286:Jawwad S. Khawaja 118:further amendment 99:Abul A'la Maududi 62:in the country's 53: 52: 1178: 1021:Gilgit-Baltistan 899: 892: 885: 876: 869: 868: 861: 855: 854: 847: 841: 840: 838: 837: 822: 816: 815: 801: 792: 786: 785: 783: 782: 773:. Archived from 768: 759: 753: 752: 738: 729: 723: 722: 720: 718: 708: 700: 694: 693: 691: 689: 679: 671: 665: 664: 662: 661: 647: 641: 640: 629: 620: 619: 612: 606: 605: 598: 592: 591: 584: 578: 577: 575: 574: 559: 553: 552: 546: 538: 536: 535: 520: 514: 513: 511: 510: 495: 489: 488: 486: 485: 470: 464: 463: 461: 460: 445: 439: 438: 436: 435: 420: 414: 413: 402: 396: 391: 385: 384: 377: 371: 370: 358: 349: 348: 347:. June 22, 2023. 337: 290:Asif Saeed Khosa 16: 1186: 1185: 1181: 1180: 1179: 1177: 1176: 1175: 1156:Military courts 1141: 1140: 1139: 1134: 1118: 1087: 1083:Military Courts 1046: 1030:District Courts 1025: 977: 934: 925:Law of Pakistan 908: 903: 873: 872: 863: 862: 858: 849: 848: 844: 835: 833: 824: 823: 819: 799: 794: 793: 789: 780: 778: 766: 761: 760: 756: 736: 731: 730: 726: 716: 714: 706: 702: 701: 697: 687: 685: 677: 673: 672: 668: 659: 657: 649: 648: 644: 639:. May 16, 2023. 631: 630: 623: 618:. May 31, 2023. 614: 613: 609: 600: 599: 595: 586: 585: 581: 572: 570: 561: 560: 556: 539: 533: 531: 522: 521: 517: 508: 506: 497: 496: 492: 483: 481: 472: 471: 467: 458: 456: 447: 446: 442: 433: 431: 422: 421: 417: 404: 403: 399: 392: 388: 379: 378: 374: 360: 359: 352: 339: 338: 334: 329: 317: 311: 240: 238:Amendments Case 212: 207: 163: 157: 137:civilian courts 133: 112:in 2015 with a 80: 64:judicial system 12: 11: 5: 1184: 1182: 1174: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1143: 1142: 1136: 1135: 1133: 1132: 1126: 1124: 1120: 1119: 1117: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1101: 1095: 1093: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1085: 1080: 1075: 1070: 1065: 1063:Anti Narcotics 1060: 1058:Anti Terrorism 1054: 1052: 1048: 1047: 1045: 1044: 1039: 1033: 1031: 1027: 1026: 1024: 1023: 1018: 1013: 1008: 1003: 998: 993: 987: 985: 979: 978: 976: 975: 970: 965: 960: 959: 958: 953: 942: 940: 939:Supreme Courts 936: 935: 933: 932: 927: 922: 916: 914: 910: 909: 904: 902: 901: 894: 887: 879: 871: 870: 856: 842: 817: 814:on 2022-03-15. 787: 754: 751:on 2022-03-15. 724: 695: 666: 642: 621: 607: 604:. 16 May 2023. 593: 590:. 31 May 2023. 579: 554: 515: 490: 465: 440: 415: 397: 386: 372: 350: 331: 330: 328: 325: 313:Main article: 310: 307: 306: 305: 281: 278: 239: 236: 228:United Nations 211: 208: 206: 203: 159:Main article: 156: 153: 132: 129: 79: 76: 60:special courts 51: 50: 47: 41: 40: 35: 31: 30: 25: 21: 20: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1183: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1148: 1146: 1131: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1121: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1097: 1096: 1094: 1090: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1069: 1066: 1064: 1061: 1059: 1056: 1055: 1053: 1051:Special Court 1049: 1043: 1040: 1038: 1035: 1034: 1032: 1028: 1022: 1019: 1017: 1014: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 992: 989: 988: 986: 984: 980: 974: 971: 969: 966: 964: 961: 957: 954: 952: 951:Chief Justice 949: 948: 947: 944: 943: 941: 937: 931: 928: 926: 923: 921: 918: 917: 915: 911: 907: 900: 895: 893: 888: 886: 881: 880: 877: 866: 860: 857: 852: 846: 843: 831: 827: 821: 818: 813: 809: 805: 798: 791: 788: 777:on 2024-01-09 776: 772: 765: 758: 755: 750: 746: 742: 735: 728: 725: 712: 705: 699: 696: 683: 676: 670: 667: 656: 652: 646: 643: 638: 634: 628: 626: 622: 617: 611: 608: 603: 597: 594: 589: 583: 580: 568: 564: 558: 555: 550: 544: 530: 526: 519: 516: 504: 500: 494: 491: 479: 475: 469: 466: 454: 450: 444: 441: 430: 426: 423:Gul, Imtiaz. 419: 416: 411: 407: 401: 398: 395: 390: 387: 382: 376: 373: 368: 364: 357: 355: 351: 346: 342: 336: 333: 326: 324: 322: 316: 308: 303: 302:Qazi Faez Isa 299: 295: 291: 287: 282: 279: 276: 272: 271: 270: 268: 263: 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 237: 235: 233: 229: 224: 221: 217: 209: 204: 202: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 172: 168: 162: 155:Notable cases 154: 152: 150: 146: 142: 141:Pakistan Army 138: 130: 128: 126: 121: 119: 115: 114:sunset clause 111: 107: 102: 100: 96: 92: 87: 85: 77: 75: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 48: 46: 42: 39: 36: 34:Authorized by 32: 29: 26: 22: 17: 1082: 913:Constitution 859: 845: 834:. Retrieved 832:. 2015-08-06 829: 820: 812:the original 807: 803: 795:Hashmi, ZZ. 790: 779:. Retrieved 775:the original 770: 762:Mir, Waqas. 757: 749:the original 744: 740: 732:Hashmi, ZZ. 727: 715:. Retrieved 710: 698: 686:. Retrieved 681: 669: 658:. Retrieved 654: 645: 636: 610: 596: 582: 571:. Retrieved 569:. 2023-06-26 566: 557: 532:. Retrieved 528: 518: 507:. Retrieved 505:. 2023-05-09 502: 493: 482:. Retrieved 480:. 2023-06-21 477: 468: 457:. Retrieved 455:. 2023-06-17 452: 443: 432:. Retrieved 428: 418: 409: 400: 389: 375: 366: 344: 335: 318: 264: 243: 242:In the 2015 241: 225: 213: 164: 134: 122: 103: 88: 81: 71: 55: 54: 37: 24:Jurisdiction 991:Balochistan 983:High Courts 771:LUMS-SAHSOL 161:May 9 riots 97:and Molana 1145:Categories 836:2024-01-11 781:2024-01-10 660:2023-06-26 573:2023-06-26 534:2023-06-26 509:2023-06-26 484:2023-06-26 459:2024-01-10 434:2023-06-26 345:The Nation 327:References 218:(HRW) and 183:Rawalpindi 167:Imran Khan 45:Appeals to 1011:Islamabad 567:France 24 181:(GHQ) in 149:Air Force 68:terrorism 830:DAWN.COM 543:cite web 503:BBC News 28:Pakistan 973:Shariat 717:26 June 688:26 June 78:History 1001:Punjab 956:Judges 300:, and 191:Lahore 171:arrest 165:After 147:, and 1006:Sindh 800:(PDF) 767:(PDF) 737:(PDF) 707:(PDF) 678:(PDF) 655:OHCHR 719:2023 690:2023 549:link 260:21st 258:and 256:18th 230:and 185:and 145:Navy 58:are 1016:AJK 189:at 169:'s 49:N/A 1147:: 828:. 806:. 802:. 769:. 743:. 739:. 709:. 680:. 653:. 635:. 624:^ 565:. 545:}} 541:{{ 527:. 501:. 476:. 451:. 427:. 408:. 365:. 353:^ 343:. 296:, 288:, 143:, 898:e 891:t 884:v 853:. 839:. 808:9 784:. 745:9 721:. 692:. 663:. 576:. 551:) 537:. 512:. 487:. 462:. 437:. 412:. 383:. 369:. 304:.

Index

Pakistan
Appeals to
special courts
judicial system
terrorism
Rawalpindi Conspiracy
situation in Punjab
Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi
Abul A'la Maududi
2014 Peshawar school massacre
21st Constitutional Amendment
sunset clause
further amendment
Judge Advocate General
civilian courts
Pakistan Army
Navy
Air Force
May 9 riots
Imran Khan
arrest
Islamabad High Court
General Headquarters
Rawalpindi
Corp Commander house
Lahore
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
anti-terrorism courts
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.