Pakistan's top security body endorses Army's decision to try May 9 arsonists under Army Act

Associated Press

Islamabad: Pakistan's top security body has endorsed the decision taken by the top Army commanders to invoke the stringent Army Act and Official Secrets Act against people found to be involved in attacking key military installations following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9.  

The National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday decided to lay hands within 72 hours on all those involved in the violent attacks, their facilitators, and leaders on whose instigation these people had committed vandalism.

However, the proposed move to try arsonists under the tough Army Act has come under severe criticism, with rig¬hts groups such as the Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressing concerns.

Dinushika Dissanayake, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said: “It is alarming to note that the Pakistani Army has stated its intention to try civilians under military laws, possibly in military courts. Trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law."

Dissanayake said that any indication that the trial of civilians could be held in military courts was incompatible with Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law. "This is purely an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent by exercising fear of an institution that has never been held to account for its overreach," Dissanayake asserted in a statement.

Violence erupted across Pakistan on May 9 when former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption case from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted that it "strongly opposes the use of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secrets Act 1923 to try civilians".