The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding speedy action against the May 9 rioters under the Army Act, Express News reported.
The resolution was presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, demanding that action be taken against the perpetrators of the May 9 events under the Army Act, while ensuring respect for human rights.
9 مئی کے واقعات میں ملوث ایک سیاسی جماعت اور اس کے سربراہ کے خلاف قانونی کاروائی کی قرارداد ایوان میں کثرت رائے سے منظور
قرارداد وفاقی وزیر دفاع خواجہ آصف کی طرف سے پیش کی گئی@KhawajaMAsif pic.twitter.com/gS17w5g9n6
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) June 12, 2023
The text of the resolution stated that a group and its leaders had crossed all limits on May 9, launching attacks on military installations, causing irreparable damage to state institutions and the country. Therefore, the resolution demanded that action be taken against all such elements in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
It stated that there should be no delay of even a day in taking action against the culprits, adding that even the party’s workers and leaders were distancing themselves from the May 9 events.
The resolution stated that no violation of human rights took place during the action taken against the miscreants and criminals.
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The resolution mentioned that the military has the authority to take action in response to attacks on military installations worldwide, and all individuals involved should be punished under the Pakistan Army Act of 1952 for their actions.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while expressing his views in the house, stated that military installations were targeted on May 9. “Our system has been compromised. No new laws are being created against the culprits of May 9; the existing laws found in books are being utilised.”
He stated that the cases related to attacks on military installations are heard in military courts worldwide. “We have not created any new law; rather, these laws already exist. Where there is terrorism, cases will be dealt with under anti-terrorism laws,” he added.
He also stated that where cases are supposed to be heard under Article 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), they will be dealt with accordingly. However, those who targeted fighter jets and attacked the Bala Hisar Fort will face cases under the Army Act.
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Maulana Abdul Kabir Chitrali, a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami, opposed the trial of civilians in military courts, saying that no one is above the law, not even the prime minister, the army chief, or the chief justice.
He questioned whether the government and the judiciary have completely failed. “If that is the case, then send the cases to military courts, and if not, then proceed with the cases in civilian courts,” he added.
He stated that JI opposes the demand for cases to be heard in military courts as mentioned in this resolution.
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In an unprecedented show of vandalism, protestors allegedly belonging to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised public and private properties and even attacked the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, and Lahore corps commander’s residence, also known as the Jinnah House in Lahore.
The attack took place hours after paramilitary Rangers personnel arrested party chairman in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, later retitled as the £190 million National Crime Agency scandal, on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, from the Islamabad High Court premises.
Following the clampdown, several senior PTI leaders were arrested, and many dissociated themselves from the party.
So far, many senior-most PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi, Amir Kiyani, Saifullah Nyazee, Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, have parted their ways with Imran.
Besides a number of candidates, who were awarded PTI tickets for Punjab Assembly elections, quit the party, condemning the May 9 violence and attacks on military installations.
Read the full story at the express tribune website.
