SC stops execution of six people convicted by military courts

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan stopped the execution of six people convicted by military courts on Thursday. The 17-member full court bench headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk heard the applications against the military courts as well as the 18th and 21st amendments. Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked that they did not know how the cases are being tried and how the punishments are being awarded. SCBA’s Asma Jahangir stated that the executions should be stayed until determining the constitutional status of the military courts. She said that it was not the clash of institutions. “We want the rights of the people. We will also get the military court trials stopped,” she said. The Attorney General stated that stopping of the executions will be tantamount to issuing a stay order against the constitutional amendment. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that the Supreme Court had declared the military courts unconstitutional in the Sheikh Liaquat Hussain case. “Two people had been executed by the time the verdict against military courts was pronounced,” he said. The SC issued notice to the Attorney General to present his stance about the stay order against the executions.