ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea seeking the formation of a full court bench to hear the case against the trials of civilians in military courts.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial is heading a six-member bench that announced the reserved verdict on another plea filed by a senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqui’s seeking the formation of the full court bench.
The bench also includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha A. Malik.
During the hearing today, CJP Bandial said the bench discussed the plea and the formation of a full court was not available until September due to summer vacations. The apex court rejected the federal government’s plea to constitute a full court.
At the previous hearing, the chief justice said the court has already discussed the matter for the formation of a full court. “We deliberate on the application,” the judge said as the court reserved the verdict after holding consultations.
Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan presented a list comprising the names of 102 suspects in the military’s custody before the court. The judge said that there should be an independent body to review if the arrests were made on the basis of solid evidence.
Members of civil society filed an application requesting to constitute a full court comprising judges willing and available to be a part of it for adjudication on constitutional and legal questions.
The application said that various statements have been made by politicians and sitting ministers of the present government questioning the legitimacy of the bench.
The civil society counsel further submitted that even two members hearing the petitions, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah suggested to the chief justice to constitute a full court.
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Jawwad S Khawaja, senior lawyer Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, and members of civil society filed petitions under Article 184 (3) of the constitution before the apex court, asking it to declare that the trials of the civilians arrested as violate of the constitution.
On May 9, PTI supporters thronged the streets and damaged several military and state installations, including the Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House) in Lahore and the gates of the military’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
