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Tuesday October 22, 2024

Military courts: Ex-CJP wants appeals against SC verdict heard by larger bench

Justice Khwaja, one of petitioners, challenging trial of civilians in military courts, filed an application with apex court for constituting a lawful

By Sohail Khan
January 19, 2024
Former chief justice of Pakistan Jawwad S Khawaja. — Lawrence College
Former chief justice of Pakistan Jawwad S Khawaja. — Lawrence College

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Jawad S Khwaja Thursday requested the Supreme Court to constitute a larger bench – comprising seven members — to hear the intra court appeals (ICAs) filed against the apex court judgment declaring the trial of civilians in military court as unconstitutional.

Justice Khwaja, one of the petitioners, challenging the trial of civilians in military courts, filed an application with the apex court for constituting a lawful and larger bench in accordance with Section 5 of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 under Order XXXIII Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 1980 and other enabling provisions of law.

The former chief justice prayed the apex court to (a) declare that the present bench had not been constituted by the committee as required under the 2023 Act; (b) declare that the present Bench is not a lawful and larger Bench under Section 5 of the 2023 Act since it comprised a judge who had previously heard the original petition and passed a note/order deciding one of the issues; (c) refer the matter back to the committee for implementation of its decision to constitute a bench comprising the seven senior most eligible judges to hear these appeals.