The five-larger bench of Apex Court gave a verdict in which judges decided that the military trial of the accused of the May 9 riots was unconstitutional.
Upon this, the 7 larger bench of Judges declared military trials and civilian trials the same.

On Friday, Justice Naeem Akhter Afghan said that the military and the civilian trials are the same during hearings on the military trials cases of civilians involved in the May 9 riots. The Apex Court passed a verdict on the trial cases and declared these trials unconstitutional. Later the seven Judges bench called both trials (military and civilian) the same.

The seven-judge bench includes Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justices Afghan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Shahid Bilal Hassan. Judge Mandokhail raised a question and asked if the May 9 case was not an army case. So, why were the accused tried in military courts instead of anti-terrorism courts? He remarked, “The executive cannot play the role of the judiciary.”

He added or asked whether the military officers are trained enough to deliver severe sentences. Justice Hilali also pointed out that May 9 riot cases were not registered under the Army Act. However, it is registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act. So, the suspects should not be brought for trial in military court.

The Apex Court announced the verdict for 85 civilians on December 13. These civilians were thought of as being involved in the May 9 riots. Till December 21, 25 civilians were sentenced to 2 to 10 years of imprisonment. On January 2, the Supreme Court received 48 mercy petitions. Out of which, 19 mercy petitions were accepted on humanitarian grounds.

The following hearing on the case is now postponed till January 13.