Trial process initiated against May 9 protesters under military laws, says Pak Army chief

Brushing aside the concerns of human rights groups Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir has said that authorities have initiated a legal process of trial under stringent military laws against those involved in recent attacks on military installations following the arrest of former prime minister Imran KhanGen Munir made the disclosure on Saturday during his visit to the Punjab province capital Lahore the worst hit city by the violent protests According to a latenight statement by the Army Gen Munir chief addressed the garrison officers and soldiers at the Corps HeadquartersHe said that the legal process of trial against planners instigators abettors and perpetrators involved in the May 9 tragedy has commenced under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act as per existing and established legal procedures derived from the Constitution of PakistanOn May 9 violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations including the Jinnah House Lahore Corps Commander house Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad The Army headquarters GHQ in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first timePolice put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel Thousands of Khans supporters were arrested following the violence that the powerful Army described as a iquestdark dayiquest in the history of the countryMeanwhile Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Sunday that no new military courts were being established for trial of attackers on military installationsAddressing the media in his home town of Sialkot Asif said that such courts had been functional for the last 75 years No new military courts are being established Law is already present at this time Courts are present and they have been working for the past 75 years continuously he saidHe also rejected the impression that the government was trying to snatch away the basic rights of people and said that cases would be pursued against individuals whose footage faces and identity is present that they are attacking military installationsAlso readPakistans antiterrorism court grants prearrest bail to Imran KhanThe minister also said that those convicted by the military courts would have the right to challenge the verdict in the high courts and then in the Supreme CourtI strictly do not differentiate between the attack that happened at the Corps Commander house Mianwali air base the GHQ general headquarters and the attack by India on this place Sialkot memorial he said pointing to the memorialAsif addressed the media after leading a rally in support of the countrys armed forces On Sunday General Munir also visited Jinnah House and other army installations blatantly attacked and vandalised by politically motivated rioters He was also briefed on the events of May 9The Chief of Army Staff COAS emphasised that the armed forces draw strength from people and any effort to create a wedge between the Army and the people of Pakistan is an act against the state which is neither tolerable nor condonable under any circumstances the army statement saidHostile and inimical forces and their abettors have been trying hard to create confusion through fake news and propaganda but all such designs of the enemy will be defeated with the support of the nation he saidGeneral Munir also visited Qurban Lines and met with police officials and appreciated the professionalism and restraint exercised by them during the riots and vandalism He assured the Armys full support to the law enforcement agencies for their capacity enhancement intelligence sharing and trainingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever