ISLAMABAD:
Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday suspended death penalties awarded to hardcore terrorists by the military courts constituted under the National Action Plan to fight terrorism.
The full court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk suspended the death penalties until the fate of 21st constitutional amendment is decided.
“The execution of military courts’ death sentences, those which have already been awarded and those which will be awarded, is suspended,” Chief Justice Nasir ul Mulk said.
Those convicted by military courts could appeal against their sentences, he added.
A military spokesman was not immediately available to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision.
Nine military courts were established in January, after militants attacked a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing 134 pupils and 19 adults.
Amid popular pressure to crack down on militants after the school attack in December, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif championed the new courts in parliament and lifted a moratorium on the death penalty.
More than 50 people have been executed since then, after being convicted by civilian courts.
The new courts expanded the military’s already considerable powers, giving it the authority to try civilians accused of terrorism.
Human rights groups say convictions by any courts in Pakistan can be highly unreliable because of an antiquated criminal justice system, the use of torture to extract confessions and shoddy police investigation.
Critics have raised questions about how fair and accountable the military courts are and the Supreme Court Bar Association had filed a legal challenge against them.
It had requested a stay of execution for those convicted, pending a decision on its challenge.
These military courts were set up under the 21st constitutional amendment, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court by Supreme Court Bar Association and others.