The presidential reference, initiated by Asif Ali Zardari under Article 186 of the Constitution.
Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan‘s nine-member larger bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, has reserved its verdict in a significant and long-pending presidential reference. This reference seeks to revisit the controversial death sentence handed down to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979.
The bench, which includes Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Amin Ud Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard arguments from both sides before reserving its verdict.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, while acknowledging the significance of the case, stated, “Not today, but we will announce our verdict soon.” The court’s deliberations touched upon the nature of martial law and individual accountability in historical contexts.
The presidential reference, initiated by Asif Ali Zardari under Article 186 of the Constitution, aims to reexamine the trial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), in connection with his murder case.
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The court’s decision on this matter is highly anticipated, as it holds significant implications for the country’s legal and political landscape.
