Supreme Court

Allowing military courts to pronounce decisions, albeit conditionally, raises renewed concerns about the judiciary's independence after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, says lawyer Mirza Moiz Baig.

To be fair to Justice Isa, he showed tremendous courage in checking the powerful — if power can be taken to mean retired judges, dead generals, and Monal Restaurant.

The 26th Amendment has dealt a body blow to Pakistan’s democracy and its constitutional order, said Barrister Asad Rahim.

The Parliament cannot take away the judicial power to interpret the Constitution from the apex court and vest it in, what is effectively, a body subordinate to the government.

There is little likelihood for the new law to be interpreted in the manner it is intended and affect the composition of assemblies.

"Today's verdict reminds us why citizens still look to the court for justice," said Barrister Asad Rahim Khan.

The path to a more transparent Pakistan is illuminated by judgments such as this, promising a future in which the nation's affairs are open to scrutiny, and public trust is fortified.

The record of protection of privacy rights in Pakistan is extremely poor, perhaps one of the poorest in the world, which is all the more reason for the exclusionary rule to be adopted.

CJP says long march is a "political problem that can be resolved politically", adds that the court does not want to take a "premature" decision.

Hearing has been adjourned for an indefinite period.