Justice Athar Minallah of Pakistan’s Supreme Court has expressed a desire for courts to remain open during threats of martial law. Speaking at the New York City Bar, he emphasized the importance of judicial presence during such times.
He criticized some television channels for fostering a sense of impending martial law in Pakistan, though he did not specify any channels. Minallah lamented that the courts were closed during critical moments in history, such as when martial laws were imposed on October 12, 1999, and July 5, 1977.
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Reflecting on these events, Minallah noted that the presence of open courts would have been crucial, and he suggested that any unconstitutional attempt to remove former Prime Minister Imran Khan would have tested the Islamabad High Court’s commitment to constitutional supremacy.
