Islamabad:
The head of the opposition Omar Ayub Khan has written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, who appeals to him to intervene to secure a fair trial of people convicted in the anti-terrorism medlases (ATCs) for their alleged roles in rebellion after May 9, 2023 Arrest of PTI foundation IMRAN KAN.
In the four-page “Appel”, the opposition leader belonging to PTI has highlighted the alleged irregularities that occur during the trials on May 9. The ATCs are bound by the Supreme Court to complete all these May 9 -case procedures before the first week of August.
According to Omar, the integrity of Pakistan’s legal process is under severe threat, as these litigation, which are assumed to exemplify justice, has instead become a means of political persecution. “The ATCs in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha and other cities belong to cases related to May 9 with a speed and way that shocks the conscience of any impartial observer.
“Hearings begin early in the morning and extend late at night; in fact, it is reliably reported that the procedure will continue in some cases until 02:00 to 3:00.” This is justice crushed and justice buried under the weight of exhaustion, coercion and haste, ”he added.
He stated that such a schedule was unprecedented in the annals of Pakistani case law, as it ignored the most basic principles of a fair trial, including the accused’s right to a meaningful opportunity to prepare and present a defense, and the solemn service’s solemn obligation to carry out litigation with dignity, transparency and impartiality.
He also referred to the motto of the Supreme Court in Pakistan that justice should not only be done, it must obviously and undoubtedly be seen to be done. He regretted that this cardinal principle during the 9th of the May trials has been systematically violated.
Omar claimed that the management, workers and supporters of PTI were unlawfully implicated through a process that seemed Mala Fide and politically motivated. Police reports and prosecutions lack credible evidence and are filled with procedural irregularities, he added.
He also told several cases of prosecution and the police mismatch, including the production of fours, forced interrogation tactics and selective registration of cases against opposition figures – all undermined the rule of law and public confidence in the legal system.
With reference to the right to election of election, he said that a fundamental right laid down in Article 10a of the Constitution has been trampled. He said that the ATCs often deny interruptions and in many cases threaten or continue to appoint state advisers without the consent of the defendant.
“This practice not only violates constitutional guarantees, but also violates internationally recognized fair trial.
“If these attempts are allowed to continue under the current conditions – Hurried, secret and politically charged, the damage to Pakistan’s legal reputation and people’s confidence will be irrevocable.”
