Supreme Court suspends six death sentences awarded by military courts

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the death sentences awarded by the military courts to six militants on terror charges.

Noor Saeed, Haider Ali, Murad Khan, Inayatullah, Israruddin and Qari Zahir were condemned to death on April 2 by the military courts which have been established through a constitutional amendment under the National Action Plan.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had requested the top court to pass an interim order staying execution of the condemned prisoners.

A 17-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk heard the case in the apex court today (April 16).

According to the court’s short order, the death warrants of terror convicts awarded in the military courts in the future will also be suspended.

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt expressed reservation over the apex court’s decision and said the trial of the convicts in the military courts was not a secret crime and a complete procedure was adopted.

“Prisoners have the right to appeal against the black warrants under the Army Act,” he added.

The convicts were reportedly involved in several serious crimes.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk said the trial of the convicts was not public, while it was just the death sentences that were public.

The SCBA had filed an application through Asma Jahangir, requesting the apex court pass an interim order staying execution of the men convicted by the military courts till the final disposal of the constitutional petition.

It also prayed that as the guardian of the Constitution the apex court has to ensure the fundamental rights.

“The recent trials of military courts are neither public nor transparent and military courts do not ordinarily observe principle of due process thus the apprehensions of the petitioner are genuine and have merit,” read the plea.