Islamabad: A three-member constitutional committee of the Supreme Court has decided to remove Justice Ayesha Malik from the seven-member bench that was hearing intra-court appeals related to the military trials of civilians following the events of May 9. The decision was made during the committee’s third meeting, which was chaired by Justice Aminuddin Khan and attended by Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

The meeting focused on reviewing the scheduling a military courts nd handling of cases regarding civilian trials conducted in military courts. According to the minutes of the meeting, it was noted that Justice Ayesha Malik had previously heard the May 9 military courts case. As a result, the committee decided that the pending appeal would now be heard by a reconstituted seven-member bench. The matter of replacing Justice Malik with another judge has been referred to the Judicial Commission, which will nominate the seventh member of the bench.

In addition to addressing the composition of the bench, the committee made several key decisions aimed at streamlining the judicial process for constitutional cases. One of the major steps included the establishment of a separate branch dedicated specifically to constitutional cases. This move is designed to ensure more focused and efficient handling of such important matters.

To further enhance case management, the committee introduced the concept of “green tagging,” a method of categorizing cases based on their priority and significance.

Moreover, the committee delegated responsibility to the Registrar for procedural development, with the aim of improving administrative procedures in the courts. The committee also approved the transfer of cases under Article 186A between high courts, a decision that is expected to reduce the backlog and expedite the process. Another significant move was the scheduling of five chamber appeals daily, which is expected to help clear pending cases in a timely manner.

Recognizing the increasing workload in the judicial system, the committee called for the assistance of civil judges to help manage the rising number of cases. This is expected to ease the burden on senior judges and ensure that cases are handled more efficiently.

The changes made by the committee are seen as part of ongoing efforts to reform the judicial system and improve the handling of constitutional and military court cases. The reconstitution of the bench and the new procedural measures are likely to have a significant impact on the progress of pending cases, including those related to the high-profile May 9 military trials.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 21 2024

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