A six-member Supreme Court (SC) bench on Tuesday resumed hearing pleas challenging the military trials of civilians. The bench comprises Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Ma­­zahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik. During yesterday’s hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had left the bench after the country’s top law officer had objected to his presence. Consequently, the bench shrank to six judges, and CJP Bandial observed that he expected that no trial of any individuals, accused of committing violence on May 9, would commence in military courts while the apex court was hearing the matter.

However, in his presser later in the day, ISPR DG Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry mentioned that proceedings against the 102 people handed over for trial under the army act were already under way. At the outset of the hearing, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Abid Zuberi came to the stand and told the court that he had also filed a plea on the matter. He urged the court to let him present his arguments. “We are happy to see that a plea has come from the SCBA,” the CJP remarked, adding that good arguments would be welcomed. Justice Bandial told Zuberi to prepare his arguments, adding that the court would come back to the plea later.

 Subsequently, PTI chief Imran Khan’s lawyer Uzair Bhandari resumed his arguments in the case and said that a civilian could not be court-martialled. Referring to yesterday’s press conference by the military, he said that Inter-Services Public Relations Director General spokesperson Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that 102 people would be tried in military courts. However, Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan interjected and said, “I stand by what I said yesterday, that 102 people are not being tried.” During yesterday’s hearing, the AGP had stated that the cases of 102 detained persons were at the investigation stage and it was likely that the number could reduce as their cases could be sent to normal courts after the probe was completed.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP