ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has lifted the stay order against the execution of the death sentence of former Navy officers by the Field General Court Martial.
As per private tv channel report, the Islamabad High Court has disposed of the petition seeking access to the documents of five former Navy officers sentenced to death in the dockyard attack case.
Justice Babar Sattar ruled to dispose of the petition after the statements of the petitioners’ lawyers. The petition was filed by former Navy officers Arsalan Nazir Satti, Muhammad Hammad, Muhammad Tahir Rashid, Hammad Ahmed, and Irfan Ullah.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Colonel (Retd.) Inam-ur-Rahim, said that access to the inquiry report and judgment was given in the presence of the government lawyer on the court’s order, but a copy of the inquiry report and judgment was not provided. The inquiry report and judgment were shown, and notes of them were made.
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Navy officials had refused to provide a copy of the Board of Inquiry report to the criminals, citing it as a national security issue.
The court had ordered that death row convicts be given access to limited records relating to them. Five Navy personnel were sentenced to death by a court martial, the execution of which was stayed by the High Court.
It should be noted that, Islamabad High Court in June 2024 stayed the death sentences awarded to five former Navy personnel in the Karachi Naval Dockyard attack case and sought a response from naval authorities regarding the petitioners’ claim that they had not been provided copies of the trial proceedings along with reasons.
Justice Babar Sattar heard petitions filed by ex-Lieutenant Arslan Nazir Satti and others, seeking access to the trial proceedings in which they were sentenced to death.
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The five naval officers were reportedly charged with having links to the so-called Islamic State militant group, mutiny, conspiracy, and carrying weapons in the dockyard on September 6, 2014.
According to media reports, the attackers allegedly planned to hijack the warship PNS Zulfiqar to use it in an attack on a U.S. Navy refueling ship. Two militants were killed, and four others were apprehended by security personnel.
