Pakistan: Pro-Khan Protesters to Be Tried Under Military Laws

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Facts

  • During a meeting of Pakistan's National Security Committee chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif, military and civilian leaders announced that the rioters and their backers who demonstrated on May 9 to protest the arrest of former PM Imran Khan will be tried under army laws.1
  • According to PM Sharif's office, the Khan protesters, some of whom were reportedly seen burning and fighting with police and damaging government buildings, official and public vehicles, and military assets, will be tried under laws "including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act."2
  • Top military leaders said restraint will no longer be used against them, with Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb adding that leaders of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party "cannot be disassociated from the protests."3
  • The Sharif government has accused Khan of hiding suspects linked to the riots, with a spokesman for the Punjab provincial government saying on Wednesday that Khan has 24 hours to hand over 40 suspects allegedly hiding at his home or face a police raid. So far, 3.4K have been arrested.4
  • Meanwhile, the PTI has accused the military-controlled intelligence agencies, which have staged three coups and heavily influence domestic politics and foreign policy, of being responsible for the shootings and arson, claiming it has an "ample amount of evidence" to prove it.2
  • Military trials in Pakistan are usually held behind closed doors. Both Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have expressed concern over potential human rights violations under the proposed trials.4

Sources: 1Reuters, 2Al Jazeera, 3News, and 4Washington Post.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by The News. The attacks on Pakistan's cherished governmental and military institutions, incited by the PTI party, have not only put the nation's security at risk but prompted long-time members of the opposition party to quit. Treasonous high-profile politicians and their supporters endangered the safety of both civilians and soldiers, which is why this must be treated as a military trial.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Amnesty International. Pakistan has a history of unlawfully trying civilians in military court simply due to their opposition to the government. Protesting the arrest of a party leader, even if it becomes violent, doesn't mean the government can then throw participators into a closed-door trial with no due process. This is a political tactic aimed at intimidating dissenters so they never again speak out against the ruling regime.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by WION. As history has shown, the unprecedented backlash against Pakistan's military will likely lead to either an emergency dictatorship or technocracy. Pakistan has undergone many coups over the decades, and the new anti-Khan military leadership will likely pursue yet another crackdown on society as the former PM's supporters continue to protest. While all of this occurs, the West will likely publicly support the masses while secretly applauding the military crackdown.