SC admits pleas challenging military courts

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday admitted for hearing petitions against the 21st Constitutional Amendment, recently passed by Parliament to give legal cover to military courts for trying terrorism suspects.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, is scheduled to hear the petitions on January 28. The other two judges on the bench are Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mushir Alam.

The petition, filed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) Bar Association at the Supreme Court's Lahore registry, challenges the establishment of military courts and disapproves the 21st Constitutional Amendment.

Six similar petitions were filed in the apex court challenging the formation of military courts and the 21st Amendment.

The petitioners maintain that the Constitution does not provide any room for military courts, and that the 21st Amendment deviates from the basic structure of the Constitution. The petitions also argue that forming of military courts establishes a parallel judicial system.

The petitions state the 21st amendment affects clauses in the Constitution pertaining to basic human rights, and plead to the apex court to strike down the legislation.