Desk: Amid ongoing tensions with India, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has granted unchecked power to its military and controversial army chief General Asim Munir. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has delivered a concerning verdict for ordinary citizens. In its decision on Wednesday, the top court stated that civilians can now be tried in military courts, which carry penalties up to death. This empowers General Asim Munir to initiate military court cases against any citizen by alleging threats to the country and the army. This situation is highly alarming for Pakistan’s general public and particularly for opposition groups.
The Pakistani court issued the ruling on May 7, overturning a previous decision. Initially, the court had deemed unconstitutional the prosecution of civilians in military courts. However, this decision has now been reversed, significantly strengthening General Asim Munir’s position. Already perceived as stronger than political leadership, Munir is now making all critical decisions. This decision stems from incidents of violent protests following Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023. Supporters of Imran Khan could now face military court cases and severe punishments.
This crucial decision comes amid tension with India, where criticism of the military can lead to charges of treason. It is believed that this timing was deliberately chosen to enforce such a decision from the Supreme Court. Following the violence on May 9, nearly 1,000 of Imran Khan’s supporters were arrested. Additionally, allegations were made that hundreds of PTI supporters were jailed without evidence. In October 2023, the court ruled that decisions against civilians in military courts were incorrect. Several appeals were then filed, and on May 7, the Supreme Court reversed its previous ruling.
