Justice Rizvi Questions Military Trials for May 9 Rioters Over Terrorism Cases

On January 30, 2025, during a Supreme Court hearing on the military trials of civilians involved in the May 9, 2023 riots, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi questioned whether the offenses committed during these riots were more severe than previous terrorist incidents, such as the attacks on the Mehran and Kamra bases. He inquired why the accused were tried in military courts instead of anti-terrorism courts. Advocate Khawaja Haris, representing the defense ministry, argued that military courts operate under a separate, recognized law and that additional crimes were incorporated into the Army Act through amendments. Justice Rizvi further questioned the handling of past attacks on military installations and the necessity of constitutional amendments for trying civilians in military courts.