Supreme Court halts executions ordered by military courts

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday halted execution of death sentences awarded by the military courts to six militants on terror charges.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) challenging the death sentences handed down by military courts.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants Noor Saeed, Haider Ali, Murad Khan, Inayatullah, Israruddin and Qari Zahir were awarded death sentences by the military courts, established under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and Pakistan Army Act 1952.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif ratified the death sentences on April 2.

The SCBA, which had filed its appeal through its former president Asma Jahangir, pleaded to the apex court to pass an interim order staying the execution of the persons until the final disposal of the constitution petition.

It had also argued in the petition that, as the guardian of the Constitution, the apex court has to ensure the Fundamental Rights.

Those who were awarded death sentences are vulnerable because if they are executed it will be irreversible, it was contended in the petition.

Hearing the petition today, a full bench of the Supreme Court ordered that execution on the death sentences be halted until conclusion of the case.

The SCBA has already challenged the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2015 and sought the interpretation of 21st Amendment to the Constitution, saying its operation and outcome contradict the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.