DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244013
TITLE=PAK MILITARY COURTS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT HAS RULED MILITARY COURTS 
OPERATING IN KARACHI CAN  NOT  CARRY OUT DEATH SENTENCES UNTIL IT
DECIDES THEIR LEGALITY NEXT MONTH.  AS V-O-A'S SCOTT ANGER 
REPORTS, THE RULING IS A SETBACK FOR THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS 
USING THE SPECIAL COURTS IN AN ATTEMPT BRING VIOLENCE UNDER 
CONTROL IN THE SOUTHERN PORT CITY.

TEXT:  AFTER REVIEWING PETITIONS CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE 
MILITARY COURTS IN THE SINDH PROVINCE, THE PAKISTANI SUPREME 
COURT ORDERED AUTHORITIES NOT TO CARRY OUT EXECUTIONS HANDED DOWN
BY MILITARY COURTS UNTIL IT DECIDES WHETHER THE SPECIAL COURTS 
ARE LEGAL.

THE PETITIONS WERE FILED BY THE ETHNIC M-Q-M PARTY AND OTHERS, 
CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE MILITARY COURTS TO PROSECUTE AND 
PUNISH SUSPECTED CRIMINALS.  THE M-Q-M CLAIMS THE GOVERNMENT IS 
USING THE COURTS TO PROSECUTE AND EXECUTE ITS MEMBERS IN AN 
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THEIR PARTY.

AKRAM SHEIKH, A SUPREME COURT LAWYER IN ISLAMABAD, SAYS HE 
OPPOSES THE MILITARY COURTS AND HAS FILED A PETITION TO STOP 
THEM.  HE SAYS MILITARY COURTS CAN  NOT  BE ACCEPTED IN A CIVIL 
SOCIETY --  EVEN UNDER THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES.

                        ///SHEIKH ACT///

         NO AMOUNT OF TERRORISM, NO AMOUNT OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE 
         WILL JUSTIFY SETTING UP OF THE MILITARY COURTS.  THE 
         RULING WILL BE TAKEN AS A SET BACK BY THE GOVERNMENT.

                          ///END ACT///

FRUSTRATED BY GROWING ETHNIC AND SECTARIAN VIOLENCE, PAKISTANI 
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SUSPENDED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAST 
OCTOBER AND INSTALLED MILITARY COURTS TO PROVIDE WHAT HE CALLS 
QUICK JUSTICE.

THE COURTS WASTED  NO  TIME IN HANDING DOWN DEATH SENTENCES.  TWO
MEN HAVE BEEN EXECUTED DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND ANOTHER FOUR
PEOPLE ARE AWAITING EXECUTION IN KARACHI.  APPEALS FOR THOSE 
CONVICTED ARE HEARD BY ANOTHER MILITARY COURT, WHICH THEN MUST 
ISSUE A VERDICT IN THREE DAYS.

ALL EXECUTIONS WILL REMAIN SUSPENDED UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT 
MAKES A FINAL DECISION.  IT WILL TAKE UP THE CASE AGAIN ON 
FEBRUARY 1ST.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SA/TMD/JO






11-Jan-99 9:37 AM EST (1437 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.