Right groups call on Pakistan not to try 'arsonists' from political protests in military courts

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani authorities on Wednesday pressed on with efforts to try civilians involved in recent anti-government protests before military courts despite appeals from a leading international rights group and a local watchdog.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan issued separate statements late Tuesday, saying they were alarmed by the government's plan to bring supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan who clashed with police and rioted across the country to trial under military rules.

Military trials in Pakistan are usually held behind closed doors, depriving civilians of some of their basic rights, including contracting a lawyer of their choice.

A wave of violence engulfed Pakistan's capital and other urban areas following the dramatic arrest of Khan — now opposition leader — from a courtroom in Islamabad on Tuesday last week.

Angry Khan supporters torched buildings and vehicles and attacked police and military personnel and facilities. The clashes killed 10 people; authorities arrested 4,000. The Supreme Court later ordered Khan’s release and criticized the way he was arrested.

On Wednesday, a top court in Islamabad extended Khan’s bail and protection from arrest until the end of the month.

The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — who succeeded Khan after a no-confidence vote parliament ousted the latter last year — accused the former premier of hiding suspects linked to the attacks on military installations at his residence in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Amir Mir, a spokesman for the Punjab government, said Wednesday that Khan has 24 hours to hand over 40 suspects allegedly hiding at his home or face a police raid. He told a news conference that so far 3,400 suspects have been arrested and more raids were underway.

Khan claimed in a tweet that his supporters, both men and women, detained by authorities are being tortured in police custody and demanded the immediate release of female protesters. He offered no evidence to back those claims.

The Pakistani army and government announced on Tuesday they will try “the arsonists” involved in the violent protests under military law.

Amnesty International said it was “alarming to note" that the authorities have stated their "intention to try civilians under military laws, possibly in military courts.”

Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty's deputy regional director for South Asia, said that trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said civilians arrested should be tried in civil courts and not military ones — reserved for troops suspected of working against the country's national interests and violating military rules.

Dissanayake accused the Pakistani government of using military law as “an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent by exercising fear of an institution that has never been held to account for its overreach.”