ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgment on appeals challenging the legality of trying civilians in military courts.
Previously, on October 23, 2023, the apex court ruled that prosecuting civilians in military courts for alleged involvement in attacks on army installations during the post-Imran Khan arrest unrest was unconstitutional.
Read more: Lawyers reject civilian military trials.
A six-member bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan and including Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, concluded hearings after extensive arguments from both sides.
The verdict was reserved following final remarks by the Attorney General for Pakistan. Justice Aminuddin Khan noted that a short order would be issued later this week, highlighting the urgency of the case due to its constitutional significance.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General requested the court to provide guidance on appeal rights for civilians and referred to past precedents, such as the SC’s directive for legislation in the case of former Army Chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa’s service extension.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar recalled that Parliament was granted six months to legislate in that case, reaffirming the court’s capacity to propose legal amendments.
The forthcoming judgment is anticipated to clarify whether military courts have constitutional authority to try civilians, an issue that has generated intense legal and public scrutiny.
