Islamabad (Anantnag), June 29: Family members of five civilians killed in Pathribal fake encounter 12-years ago, on Friday said that they don’t have faith in court martial proceedings.  
 “We don’t have faith in court martial proceedings and the accused should only have been tried in criminal court,” said Shakoor, son of Jumma Khan.
 Jumma Khan, 50, a laborer who hailed from a remote village of Brari Aangan was one among the five who was picked up by the Army and then killed in a fake encounter in Pathribal village and branded as a foreign militant.
 “It is the Army itself who are the perpetrators of this heinous crime and it has been they who from day one have been shielding the culprits. The accused Army officials have been even awarded with medals and granted promotions. So, how can they deliver justice to us”? said Shakoor.
 He said that justice was only expected if the trial of the accused army officers, including a Brigadier, would have been conducted in regular criminal court.
 The family members of the other victim, name sake of Jumma Khan hailing from the same village say that they also want the case to be tried in criminal court only.
 “The accused should be tried in regular criminal court and awarded exemplary punishment,” said Rasheed son of Juma Khan.
 Jumma Khan, 42, a laborer by profession was also picked up by the army persons under similar circumstances and dubbed as foreign militant.
 “The crime perpetrated by the accused Army officers is not an ordinary and as such they deserve an exemplary punishment, which is expected from regular court only and not Army court,” said Rasheed.
 Rasheed, however thanked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for pleading their case.
 “Had CBI not intervened the Army would still have been in a denial mode. We have been longing for justice for more than 12 years now and it is only because of Allah’s blessings that we have not given up,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST