At the outset of the hearing, Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that all other cases infront of the bench would be adjourned without proceeding and only the military trials case would proceed in front of the court.

The bench also includes Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Musarrat Hilali, and Shahid Bilal Hassan.

During the hearing, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail questioned how the state could assume judicial duties when the anti-terrorism courts alread exist.

Earlier in December, the Constitutional Bench allowed military courts to announce verdicts for 85 civilians charged with attacking military institutions. The bench said that the verdicts could be announced but their implementation would be dependant on the Supreme Court’s decision.

Military courts have already sentenced 85 people for being involved in the violent protests of May 9.

The Inter-Services Public Relations later said that mercy appeals of 19 individuals have been accepted and their sentences commuted.