ISLAMABAD: Describing the Senate’s endorsement of military trials for civilians as a violation of the Constitution, Raza Rabbani, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), declared on Monday that he would persist in opposing it.
In the previous week, the Senate approved a motion against the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the trial of civilians in military courts, urging the suspension of the judgment’s implementation “unless it is considered by a larger bench.” The resolution supports the military trial of individuals arrested in connection with the May 9 riots.
Two senators, Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami and Raza Rabbani of PPP, opposed the resolution against the Supreme Court’s decision.
Addressing the house today, Rabbani, the PPP leader, mentioned that he had supported the bill for establishing military courts in 2015, clarifying that his vote was in line with party discipline.
Expressing regret, Rabbani admitted feeling ashamed for voting in favor of the bill and reiterated his ongoing remorse.
In January 2015, Rabbani, emotionally affected, voted in the Senate on the 21st Constitutional Amendment for the establishment of military courts, admitting that he had never felt more ashamed in his life.
Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that the bill was not on the Senate session agenda, and the motion was introduced when a significant number of lawmakers were absent.
Following the bill’s passage, lawmakers protested vehemently in the house against the rushed approval of the resolution, demanding its immediate withdrawal. Senate Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi adjourned the proceedings due to a lack of quorum without addressing any agenda items.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar called on the Senate to condemn any violation of basic human rights, labeling the military trial of civilians as “unfair.”
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar expressed the view that the resolution was hastily passed.
Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad characterized the Senate resolution as a “drone attack on the House” and an “attack on democracy.” He claimed that he and Raza Rabbani were denied the opportunity to speak on the resolution in the House, and the leaders of the House and the opposition were kept unaware of the resolution, stating that it would empower undemocratic forces.
