Supreme Court stays execution of military courts sentences

Islamabad: January 8, 1998

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, on a petition filed by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has stayed the execution orders of the military courts on Friday. The Application was filed with the Court by MQM's counsel advocate Dr. Abdul Basit.

In December, the Muttahida Quami Movement went to the Supreme Court to challenge the validity of the military courts, and asked that any death sentences awarded by these tribunals not be carried out until the validity ruling was made.

Two death sentences have already been carried out.

``The court asked the attorney-general (of Pakistan) to give an undertaking on behalf of the federation (government) that executions will not take place till the time the court decides validity of military courts established in Sindh under Ordinance XII of 1998,''. ``The attorney-general agreed to the direction of the court and said that no execution will take place till Monday...,'' it said.

The Supreme Court was to continue hearing the case on Monday.