SC Suspends High Court's Order To Release Military Court Convicts

A week after the Peshawar High Court ordered the release of 196 suspects convicted by the military court, the Supreme Court suspended the high court's decision after the request of the government.

A three-member bench of the SC, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, sought details of the cases, saying each case has its own particular evidence and facts. The hearing will resume on July 24.

At the outset of the hearing, the top court asked whether the suspects were released. Upon this, the additional attorney general told that court that convicts had not been freed yet. The AAG then requested the decision of the Peshawar High Court to be suspended.

The PHC had ordered the immediate release of suspects who were convicted by the military court for lack of fair trial. According to the high court, the suspects should be released if they were not wanted in any other case. It had said that the people tried by the military court were convicted on the basis of their ‘confessional statement’ and that they were not even given a chance to defend themselves.

The judgement by the court had added that the convicts were not given the right to file an appeal on their own, which showed that the entire proceedings against them as a violation of relevant laws and human rights.

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