Order for release of 196 alleged terrorists suspended

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order for the release of 196 alleged terrorists.

On Tuesday, during the trial by a three-member bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam, the court suspended the PHC’s order which set aside convictions of the prisoners and also ordered their release.

The SC has sought record of the cases of the 196 alleged terrorists from the federal government. The top court has also issued notices to the federal government and other parties involved, local media reported.

Military courts had sentenced 196 people for different offenses. The punishments handed down to them included death sentence, life imprisonment and up to 10 years in prison on various charges.

Earlier, PHC  had nullified the sentences of 196 persons while announcing judgment on the appeal pleas filed by them against their conviction by military courts on different charges.

 The court had summoned the record of more than 100 persons. PHC bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Naeem Anwar had heard over 300 petitions.