Pakistan’s Supreme Court has handed Army Chief Asim Munir a dangerous new weapon—the power to try civilians in military courts.
In a 5-2 verdict, the court overturned its own 2023 ruling, clearing the way for the prosecution of Imran Khan’s supporters who protested against the military last year. For India, this signals a deeper crisis: a rogue neighbor where democracy is now a sham.
Over 1,000 supporters of Imran Khan’s PTI were arrested after the May 2023 riots, and now, they face military trials—no lawyers, no appeals, just swift punishment. Meanwhile, General Munir, already unpopular at home, is using this verdict to crush opposition while tensions with India escalate.
The timing is no coincidence. Days after India’s Operation Sindoor retaliated against Pakistan’s terror proxies, Munir invoked the “two-nation theory” and called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”
Now, with the Supreme Court’s backing, he can silence critics under the guise of “national security.”
A Judiciary Surrendering to the Army
Pakistan’s courts once blocked military trials, calling them unconstitutional. Not anymore. By restoring sections of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the judiciary has rubber-stamped Munir’s authoritarian rule. Legal experts like Reena Omer (International Commission of Jurists) call it “a terrible, though expected, militarization of justice.”
For India, this is a warning. A desperate Munir, losing grip on Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, may escalate tensions to divert attention. His rhetoric against Hindus and threats of “swift retaliation” suggest more proxy terror attacks ahead.
The Bigger Picture: Democracy Dead, Military Reigns
Pakistan’s tragedy is India’s lesson. While India strengthens its democracy, Pakistan’s institutions crumble under military dominance. The Supreme Court’s verdict isn’t just about trials—it’s the final nail in democracy’s coffin.
India must stay vigilant. A cornered Munir is dangerous, and with unchecked power, he could drag the region into chaos.
But one thing’s clear: Pakistan’s decline only highlights India’s rise.
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