Former Chief Justice challenges bench for military courts case

In a letter to the three-member Judges Committee of the Supreme Court, former Chief Justice Jawad S Khawaja has objected to the bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood for hearing intra-court appeals against the decision to stop the trial of civilians in military courts, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Thursday.

He has requested that a seven-member larger bench should be formed according to seniority, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, to hear the appeals.

He has also claimed that he has the right to object to the bench as he is the petitioner in the main case, and that Justice Sardar Tariq Masood cannot hear the case due to his earlier opinion on the matter.

He said that in a separate letter, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, a member of the Judges Committee, has written that the case related to the military courts was to be heard by a seven-member larger bench as per the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act.

He said that on December 13, a six-member larger bench had issued an injunction against the decision to stop the trial of civilians in military courts.