Summary These sentences were the first ever after the establishment of military courts
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Thursday has halted execution of as many as six criminals sentenced to death by the military courts.
A 17-member full-court bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Nasirul Mulk held hearing of the petitions challenging establishment of military courts, 21st Amendment and 18th Amendment. Former president of the SC Bar Association, Asma Jahangir said that the constitutionalilty of 18th Amendment and establishment of military courts has been challenged thus the executions must be halted until the verdict over the matter.
Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt said that halting the executions parallels giving injuction against military courts. He said that the trials in military courts are not being done in secracy and the convicts families know about the trials.
However, CJ Mulk said that nobody knew that military courts had started trying terrorists. The people got to know that trials were being held only after the verdicts came out, he added. Justice Mulk ordered the military courts to not sentence criminals to death until verdict over the petitions is given.
These sentences were the first ever after the establishment of military courts in accordance with the implementation of the National Action Plan to counter terrorism.
