CJP noted that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not granted a fair trial opportunity, highlighting a fundamental right that was denied in his case.
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has delivered its verdict on the presidential reference regarding the hanging of former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Zulfiqar Bhutto, stating that the fundamental right to a fair trial was not upheld during Bhutto’s trial.
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, clarified before delivering the verdict that the Supreme Court’s decision is unanimous.
The court expressed that in history, there have been cases where the establishment of influence led to decisions being made out of fear. Without acknowledging past mistakes, progress cannot be made towards the correct path.
The presidential reference questioned whether a fair trial was conducted in Bhutto’s case. The Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to a fair trial was not respected during Bhutto’s trial.
The 9-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice included Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Masroor Hilali.
Former Justice Manzoor Malik, lawyers Mukhdoom Ali Khan and Salahuddin, and legal aides former Attorney General Khalid Jawed, Barrister Ihtizaz Hasan, PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek, and Raza Rabbani also presented arguments on the reference.
The presidential reference was initiated in 2011 during the tenure of the then-President Asif Ali Zardari, and the case proceedings were broadcasted live on the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel.
Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that today the Supreme Court has delivered a historic decision, acknowledging that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not given a fair trial. He expressed hope that this decision will lead to positive outcomes in the future. He further emphasized that the court has made it clear that it is striving to correct past mistakes and make the right decisions.
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