The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected a government plea to constitute a full court bench to decide the issue of civilian trials in military courts.

The government had urged the court to set up a full court on the question.

The plea was heard by a six-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, which reserved its judgment on Tuesday.

The bench ruled that judges were not available for the constitution of full court bench due to summer vacations.

The bench includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court remarked during the hearing yesterday (on Tuesday) that there should be an independent body to review whether the arrests were made on valid grounds or not.

The attorney general of Pakistan submitted the details of 102 people who face military trials to the court.

Justice Mazahir Naqvi said in his remarks why other accused in the same case barring these 102 were set free.

He said that pick and choose is not allowed in the law.

Most of the accused were arrested in connection with the May 9 riots that followed the arrest of PTI Chief Imran Khan.

The PTI has distanced itself from the May 9 violence, however, it opposes military trials of civilians.