A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) has suspended the decision of a military court which sentenced an alleged terrorist to death.
The alleged militant was arrested from the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The relatives of Rahman, who was a police constable, through a suit, told PHC that they came to know about his sentencing by a military court through media reports.
Through Advocate Arif Jan, the relatives claimed that Rahman was denied his just right of defence, therefore, the court needs to suspend the military court decision.
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ishtyaq Ibrahim, after listening to the arguments in favour of the petitioner, ordered to suspend the decision and issue notice to the government to submit its reply on next hearing.
According to Arif Jan, Rahman was charged for his alleged involvement in various terror acts, including attacking security forces and government installations.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on September 8, 2017, had confirmed and endorsed awarding of death sentences to four by a military court. In that press release, ISPR also informed about awarding of various imprisonments to 23 others by the military court.
Moreover, Rahman, Muhammad Salim – son of Muslim Khan – was also sentenced to death and the COAS has endorsed and confirmed the military court decision.
