Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday resumed hearing the petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts.
A seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi, is hearing a set of petitions against military trials.
During the proceeding today, the Punjab government submitted a report in the in the top court detailing the number of people arrested in the province in the aftermath of May 9, when violent protests erupted in the country following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's arrest.
The report submitted by the Punjab advocate general showed that detention orders for 2,258 people were issued under the Maintenance of Public Order, adding that 21 were in jail.
The report also revealed that 1,888 people had been arrested in 51 terrorism cases, adding that 500 had been discharged while 232 were on bail.
It added that 4,119 had been arrested in 247 other cases, adding that 1,201 people had been discharged while 3,012 were on bail.
On Thursday the top court sought the record of all those arrested in the country post-May 9.
The chief justice asked the government, through the attorney general, to provide details of all those individuals, including women and juveniles, who were detained by civilian and military authorities following the riots of May 9.
The CJP 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 in the day, a nine-member bench headed by the CJP and comprising 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.
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.