A six-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, had on Tuesday reserved its verdict on an application moved on July 31, requesting constitution of a full court for hearing of multiple petitions filed against the formation of military courts for the trials of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters.
Announcing the verdict, CJ Bandial said the bench discussed the formation of a full court, but decided against it. “We have seen that a full court was formed in the past, but it could not sustain in such circumstances,” the CJ pointed out, adding that a full court was not available until September.
The top judge recalled that larger benches were earlier formed twice in the case at the hand, but were unable to complete proceedings. “It is impossible to hear the case by forming a larger bench,” he said.
The hearing on the main case on trials of civilians in military courts was adjourned to Thursday.
The PTI protesters had violently reacted to their leader Imran Khan’s arrest, and had damaged several military and state installations, including the corps commander’s residence (Jinnah House) in Lahore and the gates of the general headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Following the arrests made in connection with the protests, the government had announced plans to hold the trials of those involved in attacking and damaging army assets in military courts.
The government’s decision prompted former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja, PTI chairman Imran Khan and members of civil society to file petitions before the Supreme Court, asking it to declare the trials of civilians under the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act as violation of the constitution.