Profit ARMY ACT APPLIES EXCLUSIVELY TO MILITARY PERSONNEL, SAYS JUSTICE MANDOKHAIL In partnership with
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 186 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Saturday, 11 January, 2025 I 10 Rajabul Murajjab, 1446
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QUESTIONS DOES AN ARMY OFFICER HAS ENOUGH EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE THAT A DEATH SENTENCE IS HANDED OVER?
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE Constitutional Bench of Supreme Court on Friday questioned that whether trials in a military court are “similar” to those in a civilian court and an “officer presiding over a military court is perfect enough to determine harsh sentences,” noting that cases over the May 9 riots were registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), rather than the Army Act. The members of the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench put up the questions
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JUSTICE AFGHAN ASKS HARIS TO DETAIL FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS UNDER ARTICLE 10-A (RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL) OF CONSTITUTION
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JUSTICE HILALI NOTES CASES OVER MAY 9 RIOTS REGISTERED UNDER ANTI-TERRORISM ACT (ATA), RATHER THAN ARMY ACT
while resuming hearing the intra-court appeals (ICAs) challenging the Oct 23, 2023 ruling by a five-judge bench that had unanimously declared that trying the accused civilians in military courts violated the Constitution. The seven-judge constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, is comprised of Justices Afghan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Shahid Bilal Hassan. During Friday’s hearing, Advocate Khawaja Haris, the counsel for defence ministry, continued his arguments in the case, with Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman represented the state counsel.
Justice Afghan remarked, “There is also the facility to hire a lawyer of one’s choice in a court martial case. The trials in a military court are also similar to ordinary (civilian) courts.” However, Justice Mandokhail wondered whether an “officer presiding over a military court is perfect enough to determine such harsh sentences”. Justice Hilali also questioned trials in military courts, noting that cases over the May 9 riots were registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), rather than the Army Act. The hearing was adjourned till January 13 (Monday), when the defence ministry counsel would continue his arguments.
On December 13, the SC’s constitutional bench conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce reserved verdicts of 85 civilians who were in custody for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots in 2023. The hearing At the outset of the hearing, Justice Mandokhail asked the defence counsel to satisfy the court about the trial process in military courts. Justice Hilali remarked, “An officer who hears the trial in the court does not pronounce the verdict themselves. The officer conducting the trial sends the case to another senior officer who announces the verdict. “How does an officer who did not hear
the case pronounce the decision?” she asked. Stating that despite being in a judicial career for 34 years, he did not consider himself “complete”, Justice Mandokhail questioned: “Does an army officer have enough experience and expertise that a death sentence is handed over?” Haris, the defence ministry lawyer, replied he would detail the military trial process in the second phase of his arguments. Justice Mandokhail then noted that there was a difference between the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and “other laws”. “According to the Constitution, all these protect fundamental rights. A reasonable explanation has been given in the law.”
A breakdown of the inflows shows that overseas workers in Saudi Arabia sent home the highest remittances in December 2024, amounting to $770.6 million. This marked a 6% increase compared to November and a 33% rise from $577.6 million in December 2023. Remittances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) grew by 2% monthon-month, reaching $631.5 million in December, up from $619.4 million in November. On a yearly basis, inflows from the UAE surged by 51% compared to $419.2 million in the same month last year. The United Kingdom contributed $456.9 million in remittances during December, reflecting an 11% increase compared to $409.9 million in November. Year-on-year inflows from the UK rose by 24%. Remittances from the European Union totaled $360.3 million in December, show-
ing an 11% month-on-month increase from $323.5 million in November. In contrast, remittances from the United States slightly declined by 1% on a monthly basis, with $284.3 million sent in December 2024. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the nation on a record increase in foreign remittances in December 2024, saying that the claims of those who had been chanting to halt the country’s economy had proven to be baseless. On Thursday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor, Jameel Ahmad, expressed his optimism that remittance inflows are expected to surpass $35 billion in the current fiscal year. Higher remittances may augment the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and help reduce a major economic vulnerability that pushed the beleaguered nation to the brink of default last year. Pakistan has been imple-
menting tough economic measures under the International Monetary Fund’s guidance and
succeeded in securing a $7 billion loan from the multilateral agency in September.
PROFIT: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday felicitated the nation on record increase in foreign remittances in December 2024, saying that the claims of those who had been chanting to halt the country’s economy had proven to be baseless. The foreign remittances during December 2024 increased to $3.1 billion against November 2024, posting monthon-month growth of 5.6%. In a press statement, the prime minister said the remittances witnessed a record
growth of 29.3% in December 2024 against the same month (December 2023) of last year. “Record increase in the foreign remittances reflects the strong commitment of the overseas Pakistanis for playing their role in the development of the country,” the prime minister said. After achieving economic stability, Pakistan is now on the path of economic growth, the prime minister said, adding that the government was determined to ensure national development and public welfare. APP
Pakistan’s workers remittances hit $3.08b in December, up 6% MoM: SBP PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Workers’ remittances to Pakistan surged to $3.1 billion in December 2024, reflecting a 29.3% year-on-year growth and a 5.6% increase from the previous month, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. Cumulatively, remittances reached $17.8 billion during the first half (July-December) of FY25, marking a 32.8% increase compared to $13.4 billion received during the same period of FY24. Pakistan’s efforts to curb illegal foreign-exchange trades are seen boosting the nation’s remittances to a record high this year. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expects remittances to reach an alltime high of $35 billion this year from $30 billion last year.
PM praises overseas Pakistanis for record remittances, dismisses criticism