A human rights organization has urged Pakistani authorities to prohibit military trials of civilians and reverse any unlawful civilian convictions resulting from these trials. The Pakistan Supreme Court, on May 7, 2025, overturned a previous ruling that deemed the military court trial of civilians involved in a protest on May 9, 2023, as unconstitutional. Amnesty International marked the ruling’s first anniversary by calling for an end to what they termed as “injustice” through the cessation of military trials and the annulment of wrongful civilian convictions.
Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, criticized the 2025 Supreme Court decision, stating that it significantly undermines the right to a fair trial and liberty in Pakistan. She highlighted the blatant disregard for international human rights law protections during civilian trials before military courts. Lassee emphasized the lack of procedural safeguards, independence, and impartiality in these trials, noting the denial of the right to appeal for the convicted individuals.
The organization stressed the importance of ensuring that all convicted individuals have the opportunity for a meaningful appeal before a competent and impartial tribunal. Notably, individuals currently serving sentences, including May 9 protestors and activist Idris Khattak, face challenges in having their convictions and sentences reviewed independently and fairly. In a specific case, 105 protesters from the May 2023 demonstrations were sentenced to two to ten years in December 2024, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Amnesty International raised concerns over the lack of access to court judgments and written orders for detainees, such as Idris Khattak, who was sentenced to 14 years after a secret military trial in 2021. The deliberate prolongation of unlawful detention through tactics like withholding written orders was highlighted as a grave violation of rights by Isabelle Lassee.
