Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, in an additional note on the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case, stated that under the Criminal Procedure Code, murder trials cannot be conducted directly by a high court.
He wrote that former Chief Justice Naseem Hassan Shah later admitted to external pressure during the case, marking it as a dark chapter in the judicial history of Pakistan.
Justice Yahya Afridi lauded the dissenting notes of Justices Dorab Patel, Muhammad Aleem, and Safdar, stating that their courageous stances highlighted the significance of the case despite the challenging environment of that time.
According to the Chief Justice, while the dissenting notes did not change the outcome, they reaffirmed the judiciary’s impartiality and emphasized the importance of an independent judiciary committed to upholding the rule of law.
In his additional note, Justice Yahya Afridi expressed sorrow over the fact that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was deprived of a transparent trial. He warned that if such incidents are not addressed, the transparency of the judicial system and public confidence in it may remain at risk
