ISLAMABAD: In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared null and void trials of civilians in military courts, arrested in connection with the May 9 arson attacks cases.
The court ruled that if the trial of any person has already started in a military courts it should also be considered as null and void.
A list of 102 citizens arrested in connection with the May 9 arson attacks cases was presented in the apex court which ordered that their cases should be transferred to civilian courts immediately.
The judgement came on a number of petitions filed against the arrest and trials of PTI workers in military courts.
Headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, the bench comprised Justices Munib Akhtar, Yayha Afridi, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Ayesha A. Malik.
Earlier, the bench comprised nine judges and was headed by former chief justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. However, the chief justice retired in June after which the number of judges in the bench decreased to six and hearing of the case could not go ahead.
Later, nine of the arrested persons filed an application seeking early hearing of the case.