- Letter titled ‘urgent appeal against constitutional and procedural violations in ongoing May 9 trials’ urges Justice Afridi to intervene
- The opposition leader in NA also requests a judicial inquiry into prosecutorial misconduct.
ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan urged Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday to intervene in the ongoing May 9 trials, alleging constitutional and procedural violations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.
In a letter dated July 27, 2025, Ayub called the trials ‘politically motivated’ and accused anti-terrorism courts of rushing proceedings at odd hours, denying fair trial rights and legal counsel of choice.
He further claimed that the hearings often continued from early morning until 3:00 am, undermining judicial transparency and exhausting defendants and lawyers alike.
The opposition leader also alleged that FIRs were fabricated, interrogation was coercive, and PTI leaders were selectively targeted. He also criticised the denial of media access and the exclusion of family members from the courtroom.
Quoting constitutional provisions and Supreme Court precedents, he urged the court to review trial conduct, restore open access, and halt sessions beyond reasonable hours.
In his letter he daid the integrity of Pakistan’s judicial process is under grave threat. These trials, which are supposed to exemplify justice, have instead become a means of political persecution.
He said the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and other cities are hearing cases related to May 9 with a speed and manner that shock the conscience of any impartial observer. Hearings commence early morning and extend late into the night; in fact, it is reliably reported that in some cases proceedings continue until 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. This is neither justice delayed nor justice served—this is justice crushed and justice buried under the weight of exhaustion, coercion, and haste.
Omar Ayub said such a schedule is unprecedented in the annals of Pakistani jurisprudence. It disregards 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 judiciary’s solemn obligation to conduct trials with dignity, transparency, and impartiality. As the Supreme Court of Pakistan has affirmed time and again, “justice must not only be done, it must manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done” (PLD 1975 SC 234 – State vs. Ziaul Haq).
He said regrettably, the May 9 trials have systematically violated this cardinal principle. The leadership, workers, and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been wrongfully implicated through a process that appears malafide and politically motivated. Police reports and prosecutions lack credible evidence and are riddled with procedural irregularities.
Numerous instances reveal prosecutorial overreach and police misconduct, including the fabrication of FIRs, coercive interrogation tactics, and selective registration of cases against opposition figures—all undermining the rule of law and public confidence in the justice system.
He said the right to counsel of choice, a fundamental right enshrined in Article 10A of the Constitution, has been trampled. Courts frequently deny adjournments and, in many cases, threaten or proceed to appoint state counsels without the consent of the accused. This practice not only breaches constitutional guarantees but also violates internationally recognized fair trial standards, including those set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 10) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 14), to which Pakistan is a party, he maintained.
