Ransacking military installations: PTI Senator for prosecution of accused under Army Act 1952

LAHORE: Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday said the persons involved in direct attack on the military installations could be prosecuted under the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

Senator Ali, however, posted a tweet later with a changed opinion on the matter.

He said in his tweet that the trial in the military courts of persons involved in physically damaging the government property as a result of riots etc (whether used by armed forces) can only take place in normal criminal courts and any trial under the army act would be in violation of constitution and fair trial.

Earlier, Senator Ali talked to the media persons at the Lahore High Court premises.

Asked about his opinion on the government’s decision to invoke the Army Act against the miscreants involved in the May 9 riots, the senator said that the civilians directly involved in the attacks on the military installations could be tried under the special law.

“The Army Act is our law. The military officials and civilians working at the army installations can be tried under it. And civilians can also be tried under the same law for attacking an army installation,” the lawyer explained.

However, Ali maintained that only those civilians directly and personally involved in the attacks on the military installations and properties could be tried under the Army Act and added it was not like that any civilian could be charged or prosecuted under the special law for conspiring to wage the attacks.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023