The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended its stay on the execution order of a military court, which sentenced five Pakistan Navy officers to death for an unspecified crime, until the next hearing.
An IHC bench comprising Justice Babar Sattar on Monday heard petitions from former naval officers Arsalan Nazir Satti, Muhammad Hammad, Muhammad Tahir Rashid, Hammad Ahmed Khan, and Irfanullah against their convictions.
According to the petitions, the former officers were sentenced to death in a general court-martial without being provided legal assistance. Evidence and court of inquiry documents were also not shared with the defendants.
An appeal against the death sentence was filed without access to these documents, which was subsequently dismissed by the naval authorities. The convicts then approached the IHC.
During Monday's hearing, the lawyer for the Pakistan Navy shared a report stating that the reasons for the death sentences could not be disclosed to the IHC.
Justice Babar Sattar questioned the Pakistan Navy representative about how the court was expected to make a decision without knowing the reasons for the death penalty.
"Explaining why the death penalty was given is not a confidential matter. The only question before me is why the death penalty was given; reasons should be provided," the judge noted.
The navy's lawyer requested time to get instructions from his client. The court granted the request and adjourned the hearing.
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