Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court has stated that he wants the courts to stay open in the event that martial law is threatened to be enforced in Pakistan.
Since gaining its independence in 1947, the country has seen three periods of martial law: 1958–1971, 1977–1988, and 1999–2008.
“I wish the courts remain open every time there’s a threat of martial law,” Justice Minallah stated during a speech at a New York City Bar Association event.
In answer to a query from an attendee, the judge explained why he opened the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on April 9, 2022, at midnight, the day former prime minister Imran Khan was removed from office.After being selected to the high-ranking position, the judge—who presided as the IHC chief justice from 2018 to 2022—told the participant that the high court will be open around-the-clock.
He added that he established a process that allowed anyone to submit a petition at any hour, via WhatsApp, to the then-IHC CJ, whether it was three in the morning or four in the morning.
“That circular was beneficial to 1,400. They were common folks, not politicians, which is why no one knows about them. That was only done by the High Court of Islamabad. Justice Minallah declared that the high court was accessible to all.
stating unequivocally that the news reports that he had arrived at the supreme court were inaccurate.
