ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday rejected a plea seeking the constitution of a full court to hear a set of petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
“Full court is not available till September,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said while announcing a reserved verdict on Karamat Ali’s fresh plea filed on Monday.
A six-member bench, comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik, was hearing the case.
It may be noted that the trials of civilians arrested for involvement in the May 9 riots, have not been started yet, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court at an earlier hearing.
The CJP also expressed hope that the civilians would not be tried till the conclusion of the ongoing case.
While announcing the verdict, the CJP said that court holidays are going on while there are other engagements of the judges as well, which are being affected by this case.
Read more: ‘Impossible to form full court at this time’: CJP Bandial
He said that a full court was formed by dissolving other benches on two occasions earlier.
The CJP then turned down the plea, saying a full court was not available till September.
Later, AGP Awan gave arguments on the matter of granting the right of appeal to people to be tried in military courts.
“The army men, who don’t have basic human rights, are tried in the military courts,” Justice Muneeb Akhtar said, while asking how would the civilians, who have human rights, be tried in military courts.
The AGP informed the court that he has taken up the matter of granting the right of appeal with the Cabinet Committee on Law.
He said that the adjutant general must be consulted on the legislation relating to granting the right of an appeal, and a number of issues must be considered in this regard.
CJP Bandial then directed the AGP to continue his arguments at the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings till tomorrow (August 3).
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