PESHAWAR: Peoples Lawyers Forum (PLF) of Pakistan Peoples Party has supported the trial of civilians in military courts and demanded of the party’s top leadership to terminate the basic membership of former PLF president Sardar Lateef Khosa for opposing the PPP stance on the matter.

Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, PLF Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mohim Khan Afridi said Mr Khosa was violating the party’s discipline by representing the persons accused of being involved in violent incidents on May 9. He alleged by supporting the accused, Mr Khosa was helping Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its chief Imran Khan.

Mr Afridi urged PPP leadership to remove the senior lawyer from the basic membership of the party.

Flanked by former provincial minister Ziaullah Khan Afridi and other lawyers, the PLF provincial chief said the Army Act, 1952 was already enforced in the country and anyone could be tried under the law. He said challenging the military courts in Supreme Court was stupidity, adding military courts were part of the country’s legal system.

The PLF chief said Mr Khosa had availed perks and privileges while serving as attorney general, PPP governor in Punjab and also a minister in the past, but now he was working against the interests of his own party. He said Mr Khosa should not support the people, who were facing the charge of damaging state properties.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2023