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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has suspended death sentences handed down by the country’s new military courts, set up in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school in December last year. Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk suspended the executions yesterday after lawyers challenged the constitutional amendment that created the military courts. The move came after legislators approved a change to the country’s constitution in January to establish military courts to deal with terrorism cases, prompting concern from lawyers and rights activists.

The amendment was part of government efforts to crack down on armed groups following the school killings in December by members of the Pakistani Taliban, which left more than 150 people dead, Pakistan’s bloodiest ever attack.

The army announced the first verdicts and sentences from the new courts earlier in April.

Six alleged fighters were condemned to death and another jailed for life, on terrorism charges, though few details of the offences and trials were given.

Asma Jehangir, a prominent rights lawyer who filed a separate petition against the secrecy surrounding the military trials, said the ongoing trials being heard by the new tribunals would continue.

“We’re against these kangaroo courts, we will challenge other trials if it’s proven that these courts are against the basic human rights.” The Supreme Court order said those convicted by military courts had the right to appeal and directed the attorney general to file a reply in the case by April 22. – AP