SC stays execution of military court convict

SC stays execution of military court convict

Islamabad (Web Desk): Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday stayed the execution of a death row convict who was sentenced by a military court for murdering two troops in 2009, local media reported.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, heard the case and halted the death sentence and issued notices to the attorney general and petitioner’s counsel.

The accused, Mohammad Akbar, moved the apex court against the verdict in 2016. The security officials had also recovered a cache of explosive material.

After handing down punishment, the convict filed an appeal before the Peshawar High Court against the sentence, but the court rejected it.

Later, he approached the Supreme Court taking a stance that the military court did not take legal provisions while announcing punishment. The convict’s counsel also contended that his client was not given a chance to defend the allegations against him.

Last week, the apex court had suspended the death sentence of two prisoners convicted by the military courts, namely Fazl Rabbi and Saeed Raheem, who faced charges of terror activities in Swat.