LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan expressed strong criticism on Wednesday, condemning military courts as “slaughterhouses”, asserting that it is the inherent right of the accused to have an open trial, a right that the state cannot deny.
Ahsan expressed dismay at the reliance of military courts on abduction for statements, particularly in cases related to the May 9 riots. He emphasised that individuals are abducted and then coerced into providing statements, a method he found deeply troubling.
In some instances related to the May 9 cases, he noted, accused individuals, after disappearing, filed petitions against their own earlier petitions challenging military trial proceedings, claiming satisfaction with the military trial.
Speaking to media at the Lahore High Court, Ahsan insisted that the state has no authority to deprive anyone of their right to an open trial. He questioned the fairness of in-camera proceedings, especially when family members are present but uninformed about the legal aspects.
Citing Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and due process, Ahsan referenced a Sri Lankan court’s proceedings where transparency was maintained, and everyone could freely observe and hear the trial.
Expressing concern over the performance of military courts, Ahsan pointed out that from 2015 to 2019, these courts convicted individuals in 253 cases, relying solely on printouts of confessional statements. He found it alarming that the content of these statements was consistently identical, with no evidence or cogent reasons presented against the accused.
Ahsan questioned the humanity of sending individuals, who had been given death penalties, into what he metaphorically referred to as a “slaughterhouse”. He emphasized the significance of recognising these accused persons as beloved members of someone’s family.
On the current political scenario, Ahsan remarked that predicting Pakistan’s politics is a challenging task. Responding to a query about former first lady Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka, he commented that Maneka’s statement reflects what he termed the influence of “chilla”, without elaborating on the context.
