Supreme Court issues notice
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court issued a notice to PM Shehbaz in petitions challenging the trials of civilians in military courts.
The court included the notice in the subsequent written order issued on Thursday. With this notice, the apex court indicated its intention to involve Shehbaz Sharif in the proceedings of the case.
The apex court’s order required the submission of details about incarcerated women and children, the number of lawyers and journalists held in military and civilian custody after May 9 riots.
The Supreme Court building in Islamabad. The court resumed hearing of pleas challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
The 7-member bench started the hearing of the case on Friday morning.
Additionally, the Attorney General of Pakistan has been served a notice, while all parties involved in the petitions have also been issued notices.
Meanwhile, the court has issued notices Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federation, the four provinces, the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan.
CJP reconstitutes 7-member bench
On Thursday, the chief justice reconstituted a 7-member bench after two judges _ Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood recused to be part of the 9-member bench.
Qazi Faez Isa said that the 9-member bench of the apex court was illegal. He said that the Supreme Court first decide the case of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, 2023.
Moreover, the nine-member bench led by CJP Umar Ata Bandial, consisted of Justice Isa, Justice Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi.
Justice Isa stressed that the court should first issue a verdict on the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, 2023, and then constitute new benches.
“I will not accept this court until a decision is issued on the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act. All decisions are unconstitutional until the verdict on this act is issued,” Justice Isa said.
Responding to the judge’s concerns, CJP Bandial said he had constituted the bench in line with the law.
Today the court resumed the hearing with the 7-member bench, headed by the CJP, comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi.
