ISLAMABAD - A set of constitutional petitions filed in the Supreme Court on Monday seeks striking down certain provisions of military laws that deny fundamental right of fair trial to the citizens. It calls for reviewing certain clauses on the touchstone of Article 8 of the Constitution and adoption of due process of trial through independent and impartial tribunals, besides grant of at least one opportunity of appeal against the decision of Army Tribunals before the apex court. The petitioners have challenged the vires of different provisions of Pakistan Army Act 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 and Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961, asking for the recommendations for the amendment in the said laws. The petitioners are civilian convicts who are imprisoned for an attempt on the life of General (r) Pervaiz Musharraf. Of them Ghulam Sarwar Bhatti and Ikhlas Ahmed are in Central Jail, Faisalabad, while Zubair Ahmed and Mushtaq Ahmad are confined in Central Jail, Rawalpindi. In their petitions, filed through Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry making federation respondent through sectaries of Law and Justice and Defence, they have prayed for recommendation to federal government to legislate for independent military tribunals and finally to re-examine all the law cases from F B Ali to 'this day through a larger bench and re-examine constitutionally of the sentence awarded to the petitioners in the light of Presidential Reference in Z A Bhutto and other cases. Two attempts on the life of Gen (r) Musharraf were made at Jhanda Chichi, Chaklala on December 14, 2003 and December 25, 2003. The petitioners were tried by Field General Court Marshal under military laws along with some military personnel and were awarded sentences. Ikram Chaudhry stated that the Armed Forces Tribunals have exercised the jurisdiction erroneously while denying the relief to the petitioners under the law and the constitution. He prayed that the cases may be re-examined on the basis of constitutional rights available to public at large and on the grounds and questions of law raised in the constitution petition relating to the armed forces. The sections 133 of Army Act 1952, along with other provisions with amendments to the extent described in the petition, be declared ultra-vires being in the negation of Article 2A, 4, 5, 9, 10, 10A and 25 of the constitution and denial of rights under Article 175 and 203 of the constitution negating role of an independent judiciary to every citizen including the petitioners. The section 2(1)(d) introduced through amendment in 1967 by Amending Ordinance III of 1967 (Defence Services Law Amendment Ordinance 1967) in the Pakistan Army Act, Air Force Act 2(1)(dd), and Naval Ordinance 2(3), bringing in civilians within the jurisdiction of military tribunals was ultra-vires of the constitution and was liable to be struck down on the touchstone of Article 8 of constitution. Pakistan Army Act 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 and Pakistan Naval Ordinance 1961 are in conflict among themselves on sections 31(d), 37(c), and 36(3) respectively, and are discriminatory in character. Army Act authorises the military authorities to enhance the sentences through Military Court of Appeal, but the other two acts do not permit the same. The learned counsel contended that when appeal under Hadood Laws in cases from Military Tribunal were available, then why the same should not be available in other cases as well. He said that Martial Law psyche has created dictatorial mindset among the forces hierarchy which acts above the law to keep public at large in threat and fear.