LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Thursday dismissed a petition against the verdict of a military court.
The bench comprising Justice Abdul Sami Khan and Justice James Joseph heard the petition filed by Laila Bibi challenging death sentence of her son, Sabir Shah, by the military court for killing a lawyer, Arshad Shah, in 2013 in Lahore.
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel arguing before the court submitted that the case remained pending before an anti-terrorism court since 2011 but it was transferred to the military court constituted in 2015.
He said that the convict was a juvenile (under 18 years) and had been denied the right to a fair trial."The verdict is announced in the absence of co-accused Abdur Rauf, which is unlawful," he said.
The counsel pleaded the court to set aside the verdict.
However, Additional Attorney General Naseer Bhutta opposed the request submitting that the convict never raised the issue of his age before the anti-terrorism, where his case remained pending since 2011.
He submitted that the military court had decided the matter on merit. He said the military courts were constituted through a constitutional amendment and they were empowered to hear such cases. He said that appeal could be filed against the decision in superior courts.
The bench after hearing arguments of parties dismissed the petition.
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