Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday fixed the hearing on the petitions challenging civilians trial in military courts and seeking general elections in 90 days.
According to details, a three-member SCbench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, will take up petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and others seeking directives to hold general elections within 90 days as stipulated by the Constitution.
Meanwhile, a five-member special bench of the top court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik will hear petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
On May 9, alleged workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalized and set fire to state and army properties and memorials in the wake of the party chief’s arrest by paramilitary troops from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Following the incidents of violence, the National Assembly had passed a resolution demanding that the rioters be tried under the Army Act.
A number of petitions were filed before the SC challenging the government’s decision to put May 9 suspects through military trials.
The petitioners included, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, civil society members, senior politician Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and former CJP Jawad S Khawaja.
Meanwhile, the top court will also hear four petitions the same day seeking the holding of general elections within the constitutional timeframe of 90 days from the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9.
The petitions were filed by the PTI, which had been returned on September 15 with objections. Another one had been filed by the SCBA in August, which sought directives to the ECP to announce polls within the 90-day time period mandated by the Constitution.
The other two pleas were filed by (retd) Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, a former Lahore High Court judge, and Advocate Munir Ahmad.
