Justice Athar Minallah: Courts Should Remain Open When Martial Law Threatens

In a bold statement addressing the New York City Bar, Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court remarked, “I wish that whenever there is a threat of martial law, the courts are open.” He expressed concern over the growing environment conducive to martial law and criticized media channels that contribute to such a scenario.
Referring to historical precedents, Justice Minallah highlighted pivotal moments such as October 12, 1999, when Pervez Musharraf ousted the elected Prime Minister, and July 5, which marked Zia-ul-Haq’s dismissal of an elected premier. He suggested that if an attempt were made to remove former Prime Minister Imran Khan through unconstitutional means, it would test Islamabad High Court’s commitment to upholding the constitution.
Justice Minallah’s remarks underscored the importance of judicial independence in times of political uncertainty and emphasized the judiciary’s role as a bulwark against unconstitutional actions.