Top Pakistan judges back controversial military courts

AFP, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday approved controversial new military courts set up to   hear terror cases, rejecting an attempt to have them  ruled illegal. Lawmakers approved a change to the constitution in January to establish the military courts, as part of a crackdown on militancy following a Taliban massacre at a school which left more than 150 people—mostly children—dead.The move prompted concern from rights activists and in April a group of lawyers challenged the constitutional amendment that created them. But a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition by 11 votes to six, Chief Justice Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said in a brief ruling before a detailed judgement expected later. Kamran Murtaza, a former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and a petitioner in the case, told AFP they would consider asking the court to review its decision.

Top Pakistan judges back controversial military courts

AFP, ISLAMABAD: Pakistans Supreme Court yesterday approved controversial new military courts set up to hear terror cases, rejecting an attempt to have them ruled illegal. Lawmakers approved a change to the constitution in January to establish the military courts, as part of a crackdown on militancy following a Taliban massacre at a school which left more than 150 peoplemostly childrendead.The move prompted concern from rights activists and in April a group of lawyers challenged the constitutional amendment that created them. But a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition by 11 votes to six, Chief Justice Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said in a brief ruling before a detailed judgement expected later. Kamran Murtaza, a former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and a petitioner in the case, told AFP they would consider asking the court to review its decision.