The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has rejected a request to take suo motu notice of deaths reported during recent violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters.
Additional Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) made the plea during a hearing on Monday.
The KP lawyer, appearing via video link in a separate case related to the Climate Change Authority, urged the five-member constitutional bench to intervene. "There were deaths from both sides yesterday. The court should take suo motu notice of these incidents," the Additional Advocate General stated.
However, the bench, headed by Justice Musarat Hilali, firmly dismissed the plea, emphasizing the court’s focus on the matter at hand. "Don't talk politics while appearing in the Supreme Court," Justice Hilali remarked.
Justice Aminuddin also clarified the court's stance, stating, "This matter is not before us; we cannot see it." Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel echoed similar sentiments, adding, "We don’t want to discuss matters that are not under our consideration."
The bench’s decision underscores the judiciary’s restraint in engaging with politically charged incidents outside its immediate purview. This rejection leaves the issue of deaths during PTI protests unresolved at the judicial level.
The Supreme Court's stance has drawn mixed reactions, with some legal experts advocating for judicial oversight on the matter, while others commend the court for maintaining focus on its agenda.
