The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the punishments handed down to civilians by the military courts in the May 9 case, with the party waiting for the Supreme Court’s final decision on the case.

“The Supreme Court’s final decision on the trial of civilians in the military court will be important,” PTI leader Latif Khosa, along with Salman Akram Raja, said at a press conference in Lahore on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Inter-Services Public Relations announced that the military courts have sentenced at least 25 suspects of May 9 events to jail.

The military’s media wing added that the promulgation of the sentences of the remaining accused is also being done and would be announced “shortly as and when the due process is complete.”

The military courts took the decision after the SC’s constitutional bench last week conditionally allowed them to pronounce reserved verdicts of 85 civilians who were still in custody for their alleged involvement in last year’s May 9 riots.

Khosa claimed that an “unconstitutional and illegal decision” had been made against 25 individuals out of 85. “No decision is announced while an appeal is pending.”

The PTI leader expressed a desire for a full bench of the Supreme Court to decide the case, asserting that “influential circles” claim to have all the evidence.

“The plan made in London is still in effect today. The arrest of the PTI founder was part of this London plan. How did Nawaz Sharif return? It was done through biometric checks at the airport; all of this is part of the London plan. Even our election symbol has been taken from us.”

PTI leaders have called for the establishment of a judicial commission, asserting that former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested from the biometric room on May 9. They emphasised that the apex court had ruled the arrest as illegal, citing court orders that arrests cannot occur within the court premises.

“We had no involvement in any acts of sabotage; the PTI founder chairman has always called for peaceful protests. Not a single leaf or flowerpot was broken during our demonstrations,” Khosa said.

He noted that 20 individuals were released because their sentences had expired while 25 others received sentences of 10 years each. Those sentenced have now been sent to jail.

Khosa reiterated that the SC’s final decision on the appeal would be crucial. “We are confident that civilian cases will not be subjected to military courts. Referring to military courts as courts is an insult to the judiciary; it undermines the spirit of justice.”

The PTI leader claimed that trials of civilians by military courts are “extrajudicial and the entire world acknowledges that justice cannot be obtained from military courts.” He added that the government would not allow “any encroachment on the public’s rights.”

Raja describes military trial of civilians as ‘illegal’

“Trials of civilians in military courts are illegal,” PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said and emphasised that every individual has the fundamental right to be presented before an independent court. He questioned how a person can be sentenced based on mere allegations.

Raja asserted that the cases against civilians in military courts are “unconstitutional, as individuals are deprived of their rights” based solely on accusations. He claimed that the Army Act allows for allegations to be made against civilians, leading to their cases being transferred to military courts.

He noted that the constitutional bench was formed through the 26th Constitutional Amendment and it would be “responsible” for overturning the Supreme Court’s decision regarding civilian trials. Raja warned that if it occurs, it would be an unfortunate moment for the Pakistani people, recalling how the country has yet to recover from the fate of late former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He appealed to the powers that be not to proceed with such actions, stating that it would lead to ridicule for Pakistan on the global stage. “In Pakistan, allow the rule of law to remain at some level. The whole world recognises that military courts are not true courts,” he concluded.

Omar Ayub criticises sentences handed down by military courts as ‘unjust’

In a post on X, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub condemned the sentences imposed on detained PTI members, asserting that they “violate” the principles of justice.

He emphasised that the detained individuals were “ordinary citizens” and could not be tried in military courts.

Ayub characterised military courts that impose sentences on civilians as essentially “kangaroo courts,” stating that such courts cannot “legally participate” in the state’s judicial power.

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He added that the armed forces are part of the state’s administrative authority and the establishment of such courts “is contrary” to the independence of the judiciary, “undermining” the Constitution’s fundamental principle of the separation of powers.

PTI leader Asad Qaiser also reacted to the development, saying that such rulings “violate” basic human rights and that the requirements for justice have not been met in such trials. He affirmed that they would challenge such decisions at every available forum.

Qaiser alleged that the judicial system was paralysed.