The upper house of Parliament on Monday passed a resolution backing the military trials of civilians arrested in the wake of violent protests in the country on May 9.

The non-binding resolution, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, was tabled by Senator Dilawar Khan at the tail-end of today’s session. PPP Senator Raza Rabbani and Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed opposed the resolution.

Led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, a five-member Supreme Court (SC) bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha A Malik on October 24 had declared unconstitutional by a majority of 4-1 the military trials of civilians for their alleged role in attacks on army installations on May 9.

The bench unanimously emphasised that the cases of the accused involved in the May 9 riots would proceed before criminal courts.