SC allows lawyers of four convicts to review death penalty

Asks counsels to come prepared on the next hearing

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has granted permission to the lawyers of four convicts, who have been sentenced to death on terrorism charges by a trial court, to review their case record.

The order was issued on Monday by a three-judge bench of the top court that was hearing appeals of the convicts – Ismail Khan, Wasim Shah, Liaquat Ali and Syed Nabi.

The bench, headed by Sheikh Azmat Saeed, allowed the lawyers to review the record of the trial court which handed down the sentences, and instructed the additional attorney general (AAG) to show them the documents.

Justice Saeed said the lawyers should come prepared after reviewing the record at the AAG office “because if they do not come prepared on the next hearing, their clients will suffer.”

The AAG told the court that some records could not be shown due to security reasons. However, Justice Saeed said the Monday’s decision was a collective one but the next cases would be heard separately.

Later, the SC adjourned hearing for three weeks. During the previous hearing, the bench had suspended implementation on the convicts’ death sentences.