Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Chief Justice of Pakistan has formed a new seven-member bench to hear petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts after a nine-member bench was dissolved following objections raised by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood.
Earlier the day, a nine-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Isa, Justice Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yayha Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik had taken up the petitions filed by former CJP Jawad S Khawaja and others against the trial of alleged May 9 rioters in military courts.
However, Justice Isa had stated that he did not consider “this bench a bench”. He also said that he could not be a part of any bench until the verdict on the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 was announced.
At the same time, Justice Isa said that he was not recusing himself from hearing the case. Justice Masood had agreed with Justice Isa’s views.
However, CJP Bandial decided to move forward with hearing the case and formed a fresh seven-member bench, excluding justices Isa and Masood.