Presidential reference on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto execution case fixed for hearing in SC

ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 (Online): Supreme Court (SC) has fixed for hearing presidential reference in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto execution case.
A 9-member larger bench of SC presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will hear the reference on February 20.
The bench comprises justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, justice Yahya Afridi, justice Amin ud Din Khan, justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarrat Hilali.
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It is pertinent to mention here the court had sought written arguments from the amici curiae during previous hearing.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari had filed reference 12 years back in 2011. As many as 7 hearings have taken place in SC in connection with this reference.
The first hearing of the presidential reference was held on January 2, 2012 and last hearing was held 11 year back on November 12, 2012 .Later no hearing could be held.

A 11-member larger bench of SC presided over by the former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhru had held first 5 hearings while last hearing was held by 9-member larger bench of SC. However the case has been fixed for re-hearing recently. A 9-member bench of SC presided over by the CJP Qazi Faez Isa had heard the case. The presidential reference related to former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto comprises 5 questions.The first question of presidential reference is this was the trial of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto murder in line with basic human rights enshrined in the constitution.

The second question is will the SC decision on awarding death sentence to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto be applicable to SC and all high courts under article 189 as judicial precedent;. If not then what will be consequences of this decision. The third question is was the decision of awarding death sentence to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutt just and equitable.
Was the decision of awarding death sentence to Bhutto not partial.
It has been asked in 4th question is the death sentence awarded to Bhutto correct in light of injunctions of the Holy Quran.
5th question is this were the evidence and statements of the witnesses given against Bhutto sufficient to award sentence to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

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