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DATE=2/17/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245633 TITLE=PAKISTAN MILITARY (L) BYLINE=AYAZ GUL DATELINE=ISLAMABAD CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT HAS RULED (WEDNESDAY) AGAINST MILITARY COURTS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR BY PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF. AS AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, RULINGS OF THE SPECIAL TRIBUNALS CREATED TO FIGHT TERRORISM IN KARACHI HAVE RESULTED IN THE EXECUTION OF TWO MEN. TEXT: THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED USING THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS TO TRY CRIMINALS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S PLEA THE SPECIAL COURTS ARE NEEDED TO EXPEDITE JUSTICE. THE UNANIMOUS RULING OF THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT IS SEEN AS A MAJOR BLOW TO PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF'S EFFORTS TO CHECK VIOLENCE IN KARACHI -- PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY. THE SUPREME COURT ALSO SET ASIDE SENTENCES ISSUED BY THE MILITARY COURTS. TRIBUNAL RULINGS HAVE RESULTED IN THE EXECUTION OF TWO MEN AND SEVERAL OTHERS CONVICTED BY THE SPECIAL COURTS WERE AWAITING EXECUTION. SUPREME COURT LAWYER AKRAM SHEIKH SAYS THE RULING HAS UPHELD THE CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN. // SHEIKH ACT // IT IS A GREAT JUDGMENT IN AS MUCH AS IT ARRESTS THE MENACE OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL STEPS AND DEVIATION FROM THE CONSTITUTION, LIKE SETTING UP OF THE MILITARY COURTS ON THE PRETEXT OF EXIGENCIES AND STATE NECESSITY. // END ACT // PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SET UP THE MILITARY COURTS LAST DECEMBER, SAYING THEY WOULD EXPEDITE JUSTICE. HE COMPLAINS SLOW TRIALS BY CIVIL COURTS HAVE ENCOURAGED TERRORISM IN KARACHI -- WHERE 800 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN POLITICAL AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE DURING THE PAST YEAR. MR. SHARIF'S POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CONDEMNED THE MILITARY COURTS, SAYING THEY VIOLATE SUSPECTS' RIGHTS TO A FAIR TRIAL AND COULD BE USED TO VICTIMIZE POLITICAL RIVALS. THE SUPREME COURT RULING ORDERS CASES BEFORE THE MILITARY COURTS BE TRANSFERRED TO EXISTING SPECIAL CIVILIAN COURTS DEALING WITH TERRORISM. (SIGNED) NEB/AG/RAE 17-Feb-99 10:07 AM EST (1507 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .