Overview

• On May 7, Pakistan's Supreme Court overturned its 2023 judgment, reinstating three sections of the Army Act to permit military trials for civilians.
• The ruling enables the prosecution of civilians involved in the May 9, 2023 protests, during which PTI supporters stormed military facilities following Imran Khan's arrest.
• The decision, delivered by a seven-member constitutional bench in a 5-2 split, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and human rights groups for undermining judicial independence.
• PTI leaders have condemned the verdict as a tool for political repression, accusing the military of using it to silence dissent during a period of heightened national security tensions.
• The ruling coincides with rising India-Pakistan hostilities, with General Asim Munir leveraging divisive rhetoric and military authority to consolidate power domestically.