A day before the Supreme Court takes up petitions against the trial of civilians involved in May 9 in military courts, the federal government said that the trials have already begun.

In a written reply submitted to the Supreme Court, the government said that it is ‘imperative’ that trials begin so that interests of the people under trial are protected.

“To safeguard the interests of the accused persons, it is imperative that their trials are conducted and concluded,” the reply said.

However, the reply added that the trials will stay subject to the petitions being heard in court.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court will take up the case on Monday. It was last heard on August 3.

The reply added that beginning trials would allow innocent people to be acquitted, while those with minor sentences can be released since they have already been in custody for months.

It also adds that the trials would allow convicted people to avail remedies that the law allows them.

The government said that 102 people were taken into custody for various viilent incidents on May 9 including the attack on Corps Commander House in Lahore and GHQ in Rawalpindi among others.

It also adds that the accused were taken into custody under the Army Act as well as the Official Secrets Act.

Violent protests had broken out across the country on May 9 after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad.