Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday said that the armed forces would not be allowed to take “unconstitutional steps”.
A six-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A. Malik resumed hearing a set of petitions challenging the trials of civilians in military courts.
A day earlier, the apex court had rejected a plea, filed by senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi on behalf of civil society activists, to constitute a full court for the case.
It should be note that 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.
During today’s hearing, Justice Bandial said the court was of the opinion that there was a further need to hear Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan’s arguments but contended that the court would not be able to do so for at least two weeks due to the unavailability of judges.
“AGP sahib, no military trials of civilians will be conducted,” he told Awan, to which the latter responded in the affirmative and added that assurances were given over the same.
Subsequently, CJP Bandial said the Supreme Court’s (SC) order on the provision of facilities to the suspects in custody will still remain applicable.
“It would have been great if everyone abided by the law and Constitution,” the chief justice stated. “We respect those who cooperate with the court, and also those who do not cooperate with us,” he added.
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