THIS is with reference to the report ‘Military court sentences 25 PTI activists for May 9 riots’ (Dec 22). The development has sparked a debate in society. These courts were initially established to handle cases of terrorism. There are concerns about the constitutional rights of the accused in the current scenario.

Military courts, by their very nature, are non-transparent, with judges being part of the military. There is no indepe-ndent oversight. The accused often lack access to independent legal representation, and there is limited public knowledge about the trial proceedings. These issues compromise the right to a free and fair trial, which is a cornerstone of any justice system. The European Court of Human Rights in 1998 ruled that military trials for civilians violated the principles of impar-tiality and fairness. We must align with international standards to ensure justice is not only done, but also seen to be done.

Wasif Khaliq Dad
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024