ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday is to resume hearing into appeals filed by members of the civil society, challenging the Sindh High Court (SHC) November 28 verdict that paved the way for the release of culprit Shahrukh Jatoi and others on bail.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, will hear the petitions.
On Wednesday, the CJP had questioned the locus standi of members of civil society and NGOs to file appeals when neither the aggrieved party nor the state wanted to question the verdict.
He observed that if everyone was given the right to file cases, this would lead to exploitation.
The bench then issued notice to Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf to appear in person or depute deputy attorney general on next hearing on Thursday (today) to assist court in the matter.
Members of civil society have filed appeals in the apex court challenging the Sindh High Court’s November 28 verdict that set aside the sentences awarded to Shahrukh Jatoi and other accused in Shahzeb murder case.
The appellants stated that the Sindh High Court erred while overturning an anti-terrorism court’s guilty verdict and ordering retrial of the suspects by an ordinary court.
Since the murder had triggered fear and panic among the people, it fell under the anti-terrorism law, they said while pleading with the court to declare the high court’s judgment null and void.
On December 23, Shahrukh Jatoi and other accused were released after a local court granted them bail when the father of the deceased filed an affidavit in support of their bail applications.
