While issuing an additional note in the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi stated that under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the High Court cannot conduct a murder trial directly.
The Chief Justice wrote that former Chief Justice Naseem Hassan Shah later admitted that he was under external pressure, which is a regrettable chapter in our nation’s judicial history.
Justice Yahya Afridi said that Justice Dorab Patel, Justice Muhammad Haleem, and Justice Safdar’s courageous dissenting notes highlight the significance of the case. Despite the prevailing environment of the time, the three judges stood firm on their stance.
The Chief Justice wrote that the dissenting notes of the three judges did not change the situation; however, the judiciary’s credibility and impartiality were maintained, and the importance of an autonomous judiciary committed to the rule of law was emphasized.
In the additional note, Justice Yahya Afridi stated that, in his opinion, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was deprived of a fair trial. If incidents like the Bhutto case are not addressed, the transparency of the judicial system and public trust remain at risk.
