Legal expert Yahya Fareed has said that the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the military trials of civilians arrested after the May 9 protests “null and void” would have practical consequences.

“Any legislation is made related to a specific incident; rather it is done for the overall system after seeing the political and social dilemmas,” he told Aaj News on Sunday.

“This judgement has practical consequences as 20 to 30% of civilians work in the military. They also work in sensitive institutions. When you have given blanket immunity to civilians through a judgement that you will have no prosecution then you have taken a big responsibility on yourself,” Fareed said.

When asked, he said that all the civilians working in intelligence, regular army, or extensions would be ruled out of it. Moreover, retired army men and those who breach national security would be exempted from it.

“When you give blanket immunity while interpreting the law to a segment who can create national security dilemma so there could have been consequences which you [courts] cannot control.”