Supreme Court Hears Appeal Against Military Trials of Civilians

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, is hearing an intra-court appeal against the military trials of civilians in a seven-member constitutional bench. The proceedings are ongoing, with senior lawyer Azir Bhandari, representing the founder of PTI, presenting his arguments.

During the hearing, Justice Musarat Hilali inquired about the state of fundamental rights under the 1962 Constitution during the Ayub Khan era. Bhandari responded, stating that even then, fundamental rights were not fully available, and civilian criminal trials should only be conducted in civilian courts.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail raised questions regarding the relevance of military laws and whether the Army Act could subject itself to civilian law. Bhandari explained that the central issue is whether the Army Act has the authority to do so under the current legal framework.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi referred to the Mahram Ali case and incidents of terrorism related to attacks on military installations, questioning whether investigations would be conducted by military officers or police. Bhandari pointed out that there are currently 103 individuals being tried in military courts, with media footage available as evidence.

The hearing continues as legal experts debate the constitutional and legal implications of military trials for civilians.