Military courts: PHC stays another execution

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday temporarily halted the execution of another militant sentenced to death by a military court.

The court directed the authorities concerned to provide a complete record of the case at the next hearing.

Headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the bench, while hearing the writ petition filed by Amin Shah, whose son Syed Qasim Shah was arrested in 2015, was told that the convict was held on charges of attacking an NGO office in Mansehra.

He pointed out that around six officials of the NGO were killed in the attack.

He stated that the family members came to know through the media that Khan had been sentenced to death by a military court and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) had approved his execution.

He stated that the charges were not based on facts and the man was not given an opportunity to defend himself.

He requested the court to suspend his execution. The bench accepted the request and stopped the execution.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2017.