LAHORE MIRROR — Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Friday that the trial of those involved in the May 9 violence should not commence in military courts without informing the Supreme Court (SC).
He made the remarks as a six-member bench, headed by him and consisting 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 pleas challenging the military trials of civilians.
A lawyer representing petitioner Aitzaz Ahsan pointed out that the events occurring in the country at that time were reminiscent of the era of former military dictator Ziaul Haq. In response, Chief Justice Bandial clarified that the current circumstances were not similar to Ziaul Haq’s era, nor was martial law imposed in the country.
The chief justice also assured that if a situation similar to martial law were to arise, the Supreme Court would intervene. The main takeaway from the hearing is that CJP Bandial emphasized the importance of informing the Supreme Court before initiating military trials of civilians in military courts.
CJP Bandial said the SC should be informed before military trials of civilians begin. “The trial of the accused in military court’s should not begin without informing the SC,” he added.
