Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the execution of six Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants convicted and sentenced to death by military courts.
The apex court order was made following a petition by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Wednesday seeking a halt to the implementation of death sentences awarded by military courts, Dawn online reported.
The petition, filed by human rights activist Asma Jahangir on behalf of the SCBA, requested the Supreme Court to halt the implementation of death sentences awarded by military courts until a 17-judge full court addresses the legal challenge, especially to the establishment of military courts.
The hearing was adjourned to April 22. The petition said that if the convicted militants are sentenced to death before the Supreme Court disposes the case challenging the establishment of military courts, justice will be compromised.
On April 2, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif ratified the death sentence awarded by military courts to the six militants and life-imprisonment to one.
The decision evoked a strong reaction from legal experts and rights activists.
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"It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that this court be pleased to pass an ad interim order staying execution of the people sentenced to death by the military courts, till final disposal of its petition," the SCBA said.
Expressing concern over the way the accused were treated, Asma Jehangir raised a number of questions in the petition and asked whether the people arrested were enemy aliens and, if not, were they informed about the reasons for the arrest; whether they were given the right to consult and be defended by legal practitioners of their choice; and whether the accused were presented before a magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest.
"All these factors are crucial for protecting individuals against arbitrary trials," the petition said.
Those sentenced to death penalty, the petition argued, were especially vulnerable because if "it is executed, it will be irreversible".