Situationer: Move to try arsonists in military courts raises eyebrows.

THE decision of the military's top brass to try those arsonists who attacked various sensitive installations and monuments in the country in the aftermath of the May 9 arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) has raised many eyebrows.

Not only are the legal experts questioning the powers of the military to try civilians under PAA 1952 for arson, dissenting voices have also started coming from within the ruling coalition.

Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly on Tuesday, independent MNA from North Waziristan, sitting on the treasury benches, Mohsin Dawar not only opposed the idea of holding trial of civilians under the PAA and Official Secrets Act, but also termed it a 'dangerous move'.

He was of the view that such a step could become a precedent which might haunt all the political parties in the times to come.

'Though, for the time being, it will be beneficial for some, it will not be possible for them to undo it in future,' he warned while referring to the announcement made by the military authorities after the special Corps Commanders ConfeAreAnce through which the generals not only 'condemned the politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public/private properties in the strongest possible sense,' but also vowed to bring the arsonists to justice through trial under relevant laws of the country, including PAA and Official Secrets Act 1923.

Dissenting voices emerge from within ruling coalition

The National Party (NP), one of the components of the ruling alliance, has also opposed the trial of civilians through military courts, besides criticising fresh deployment of army in Balochistan and ex-Fata districts.

'There is a criminal justice system in place to deal with arsonists. Therefore, invoAking Army Act against civilians is not required,' said NP Senator Tahir Bizenjo while talking to Dawn.

The senator was of the view that those invoking this law against certain political party would ultimately use this to silence the dissenting voices among other politicians and journalists.

PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser opined that trying civilians under the PAA seemed to be 'difficult'.

Similarly, at least two former Judge Advocate GeneArals (JAGs) of military's legal wing spoke to Dawn on the applicability of the PAA on civilians and both of them said PAA did not empower the military to try suspects for attacking...