The Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of intra-court appeals filed against declaring the trial of civilians in military courts null and void until tomorrow after Salman Akram Raja, counsel for a May 9 convict, failed to show up due to the traffic jam, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A seven-member bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the appeals.
At the outset of the hearing, Rana Waqar, Raja’s assistant lawyer, told the court that his senior could not reach the court as he was stuck in a traffic jam. “Only one route, Margalla Road, leading to the apex court, is open; the rest are closed,” he added.
Addressing Waqar, Justice Jamal Mandokhel said Khawaja Haris had reached the court. “Other people have shown up too. Even you are in the court. If Raja Sab had left his home half an hour early, he must have been in the courtroom by now,” the judge said, adding that it appeared the lawyers wanted the prisoners to rot in jail. If that is the case, what we can do.
Later the bench adjourned the case’s hearing until tomorrow.
Justice Aminuddin said the lawyers were free to give arguments if they wanted.
Reporter: Hashir Warraich