Islamabad
\nThe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday denounced the sentencing of accused involved in May 9 riots by the military courts, saying the verdicts are \u201cillegal and unconstitutional\u201d, however, in the same breath, the opposition party also expressed willingness to hold talks with the government.
\n\u201cThe military court\u2019s decisions are unconstitutional. However, despite the verdicts, we are ready for negotiations,\u201d said PTI leader Salman Akram Raja during a press conference flanked by Latif Khosa.
\nThe presser comes hours after the military courts sentenced 25 individuals involved in the May 9, 2023, attacks on state installations to two to 10 years.
\n\u201cField General Court Martial (FGCM) have in [the] first phase promulgated the punishments to 25 accused,\u201d the military\u2019s media wing said. \u201cAll convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution.\u201d
\nThe protests broke out after PTI founder Imran Khan was taken into custody in a graft case. In turn, scores of party workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials.
\nHowever, the party maintains that it had no role in the incidents involving military installations, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and has called for a judicial probe into last year\u2019s events.
\nThe military trials were initially halted after a Supreme Court ruling; however, the constitutional bench last week directed that the cases pending due to the earlier order be finalised and judgements in the cases of those accused found involved in these violent incidents be announced.
\nRaja, while speaking during the press conference, said that the PTI founder has given the party a deadline for negotiations which can also be extended.
\n\u201cWe want to hold talks for the welfare of Pakistan,\u201d said the party leader. He added that the government has not approached them yet for the talks.
\nHe further said a plan is underway to present try Khan in the military court. \u201cIf the PTI founder is presented in military courts, it will be a very bad day,\u201d he stressed.
\nHe said that they haven\u2019t yet been able to overcome about what happened to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, adding that he appeals the powerful quarters to not do this or the world would laugh at the country.
\n\u201cStop treating the people in this country like a herd. Don\u2019t try to eliminate us as you won\u2019t be able to,\u201d he said.
\nSpeaking on the occasion, PTI leader Latif Khosa termed the verdict as illegal and unconstitutional. \u201cHow can a military judge hear a case if there is an allegation of an attack on a military installation?\u201d he questioned.
\nHe added that the military courts can take disciplinary action against their employees but they cannot try civilians.
\n\u201cAn attempt was made to suppress the judiciary through the 26th Amendment,\u201d said Khosa, emphasising that the Supreme Court\u2019s full court should decide on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
\nHe added that the top court\u2019s final verdict on this appeal will be very important.
\nLeader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, in a statement, said that they reject the verdict issued by the military court.
\n\u201cThe sentences against the PTI detainees are against the principles of justice as they are civilians who cannot be tried in military courts,\u201d said Ayub.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday denounced the sentencing of accused involved in May 9 riots by the military courts, saying the verdicts are \u201cillegal and unconstitutional\u201d, however, in the same breath, the opposition party also expressed willingness to hold talks with the government. \u201cThe military court\u2019s decisions are unconstitutional. However, despite the verdicts, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-450853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n