On December 9, the SC will consider an appeal regarding civilian military trials.

A general view of the Pakistan's Supreme Court is pictured in Islamabad on April 6, 2022. - Pakistan President Arif Alvi told the country's election commission on April 6 to fix a date for a new national ballot, as the supreme court adjourned a hearing into the legality of political manoeuvres that led to parliament being dissolved. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled on October 23, 2023, that it was unconstitutional to trial civilians in military courts for their alleged involvement in attacks on army posts.

The case will be heard by a six-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Aminuddin Khan.

Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan are additional members of the bench.

In December of last year, a larger bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood stayed the Supreme Court’s ruling and permitted civilians to be tried in military courts without a verdict being announced.

Following Justice Masood was the target of objections, Justice Sardar Tariq recused himself following a hearing that lasted a few months.

The case was thereafter heard by a larger bench presided over by Justice Aminuddin Khan. The trial of civilians in military courts was likewise conditionally permitted by the same bench.

After serving their sentences, over a dozen people were released. The bench once more referred the case to the SC committee in order to form a larger bench.