SC orders access to court martial record

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of appeals by five convicts challenging their death sentences handed down by a military court in 2017, stating that all such cases would be heard together.

A three-member bench, led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, heard the appeals of Ziaul Haq, Muhammad Imran, Hafiz Usman, Haider, and Nazir Ahmed, who were sentenced to death for attacking security forces.

Both the appellate court and the Balochistan High Court had upheld their sentences.

During the hearing, the petitioners' counsel requested access to the trial records, but the public prosecutor argued that court-martial records could not be disclosed by law.

Justice Mandokhel questioned how the defence could proceed without seeing the records and directed the prosecutor to allow the petitioners' counsel to review them and take notes.

The government lawyer said he would seek instructions and update the court.

The court adjourned the hearing, deciding that all cases of convicts sentenced by military courts would be heard together.