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 full court observed sentences awarded by military courts should not be carried out pending the decision on the said amendment. The court also issued notice to the attorney general in this regard.
Earlier this month, military courts awarded death sentences to six militants on terror charges, the first convictions since the courts were established after Peshawar’s school attack in December.
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.
