Islamabad: In the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference case, the Supreme Court issued its opinion, in which the court said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not given the right to a fair trial.
The Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan was heard by a 9-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa, in which Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa delivered the Supreme Court’s opinion.
Chief Justice of Pakistan said that all the judges have a unanimous opinion. Judges decide impartially. There should be self-accountability in the judiciary. Judiciary cannot move forward without acknowledging past mistakes. The trial of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the Lahore High Court took place during the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq.
According to the opinion of the Supreme Court, the President sent the reference, which was not withdrawn by the subsequent governments. Fundamental rights were not taken into account in the trial in the Lahore High Court and the appeal in the Supreme Court against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not given the right to a fair trial.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa while expressing his opinion on the presidential reference of the Supreme Court said that the Supreme Court sent back the second question without giving an opinion. The second question did not raise a legal question. The Supreme Court combined the answers to the third and fifth questions. The Supreme Court cannot re-examine the evidence. Details will be released to review the evidence in a detailed opinion.
The Supreme Court in its opinion said that the trial conducted against Bhutto was not in accordance with the Constitution. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not given the right to a fair trial. In the reference, the fourth question was asked that the punishment given to Bhutto was in accordance with Islamic teachings? We were not supported on this question. The 9-member larger bench did not give an opinion on the fourth question. This matter is of public interest. Detailed feedback will be given later.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also present in the courtroom on the occasion of the hearing, who flooded the courtroom after hearing the Supreme Court’s opinion on the presidential reference.
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