Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday declared the trial of civilians in military courts as “null and void” and ordered authorities to conduct the hearing of the cases of former premier Imran Khan’s supporters arrested for their involvement in the May 9 violent protests in ordinary criminal courts.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan in its short verdict ordered that 102 accused arrested under the Army Act be tried in the criminal court.

The court, which announced its verdict within hours after it was reserved during the day at the conclusion of the hearing, ruled that the trial of any civilian if held in military court has been declared “null and void”.

Press Trust of India