Munir’s martial makeover: Pakistan’s democracy buried in camouflage

In a controversial and far-reaching verdict, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of allowing the trial of civilians in military courts, significantly boosting the power of the country's embattled army chief, General Asim Munir. The ruling, delivered on May 7 by a seven-member constitutional bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, reversed an earlier October 2023 decision that had declared such trials unconstitutional. This legal U-turn effectively hands more control to the military establishment at a time when democracy in Pakistan is under siege.

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The decision paves the way for trying hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters arrested during the May 9, 2023 anti-army protests, sparked by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PTI has denounced the judgment as a "Weaponized decision," accusing the state of using it to crush dissent. Critics, including international legal experts, have slammed the ruling as a blatant militarization of justice.

The verdict also comes as India-Pakistan tensions escalate, following India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Analysts believe Munir, facing internal resistance and diminishing popularity, is using nationalist rhetoric and judicial leverage to solidify his control, especially in volatile regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His recent statements invoking religious division and aggression towards India have further inflamed an already dangerous situation.