ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the execution of a convict who was handed the death sentence by a military court.

Mohammad Akbar was convicted of murdering two soldiers in 2009. After dismissal of his appeal by the Peshawar High Court, he had moved the Supreme Court. He had reportedly challenged the military court verdict in 2016.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, after staying the convict’s execution, issued notices to the Attorney General of Pakistan and the petitioner’s counsel.

According to the prosecution, five kilograms of explosives were also seized from Akbar at the time of his arrest.

His counsel argued before the court that his client was awarded capital punishment without taking legal provisions into consideration and he was not given an opportunity to defend himself in the trial of the case.

The apex court subsequently stayed the implementation of the death sentence execution order and adjourned hearing of the case for an indefinite period.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017