IHC lifts stay order on death sentences awarded to ex-naval officers 

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has lifted a stay order on the death sentences of five former naval officers convicted by a field general court-martial, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The stay order, imposed on June 4, had halted the execution of the officers, who were found guilty of involvement in an attack on the Karachi Naval Dockyard.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of the petition, filed by five former Navy officials, who had been handed down death penalty in the Naval Dockyard attack case, for access to the inquiry report and copies of the court’s decision when they were shown the documents in the presence of the state counsel.  

IHC judge Justice Babar Sattar pronounced the decision and ended the stay granted in the implementation of the execution orders of the ex-Navy officers who were court-martialled.  

During the hearing, Colonel (r) Inamur Raheem Advocate, counsel for the convicts, said he had jotted down the notes of the documents.

He said that the naval officials had refused to hand over the case record to the convicts namely Arsalan Nazir Satti, Muhammad Hammad, Muhammad Tahir Rasheed, Hammad Ahmad and Irfanullah despite the court orders, saying it was a matter of national interest.  

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani