Supreme Court Delays Civilian Trials in Military Courts, Rejects Jail Transfer

Islamabad (Daily Pakistan Online) The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, adjourned the hearing of the trial of civilians in military courts until Thursday. The court rejected a request to transfer the arrested persons to ordinary jails. The decision came after the Additional Attorney General requested a postponement due to the illness of Defense Ministry lawyer Khawaja Haris. During the hearing, lawyer Latif Khosa argued for the transfer of detainees to ordinary jails, citing the need for meetings. Justice Aminuddin Khan, however, stated that the Attorney General had assured him regarding meetings and that the case was being heard without the presence of other parties. The court’s decision follows yesterday’s dismissal of a petition to stay the hearing of intra-court appeals on the issue of civilian trials in military courts. The petition, filed by former Chief Justice Jawad S. Khawaja, was dismissed with a fine of Rs 20,000. The court also rejected the government’s request to allow the federal military courts to decide the cases. Justice Musarat Hilali remarked that allowing this would resolve the issue of the military courts’ authority to hear civilian trials.