ISLAMABAD:
Supreme Court has sought the case record of six militants sentenced to death by military courts, a month after issuing a stay order against their execution, reportedly.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa asked Attorney General (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt if he could provide the record for examination of the entire trial process at the military court, according to sources.
Another senior law officer observed it was difficult for the federal government to provide the whole record to the apex court. Justice Khosa had earlier observed that reportedly the death sentences awarded by military courts were approved by the Chief of Army Staff. Though the appeal before the appellate forum was provided in the army act, how could army officers sitting in the appellate go against the COAS, he questioned.
He said it was wrong to blame the judiciary regarding the prosecution of terrorists, adding a parallel judiciary had been formed on the basis of the Peshawar school attack, reportedly.
Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, who heads the 17-member full bench, questioned whether or not the 21st amendment had given protection to the military courts.