Supreme Court suspends implementation on GB court verdict
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 10 December 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the implementation of a Gilgit-Baltistan court ruling sentencing Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman to 26 years. The court's decision comes after a petition was filed challenging the verdict as a violation of human rights.Summary
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday stopped implementation on a Gilgit-Baltistan Anti-Terrorism Court verdict wherein Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the owner of Geo-Jang Group, and others were awarded 26 years imprisonment.
The news .com.pk reported a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the petition filed by Mir Shakil's counsel, Advocate Khawaja Muhammad Harris.
Harris challenged the verdict of the GB court, arguing that it violates basic human rights of the accused enshrined in 1973 Constitution.
He also referred to the Supreme Court's verdicts that sentence cannot be awarded in absentia.
The apex court suspended implementation on the GB court verdict through an interim order.
The GB court awarded 26 years imprisonment to Mir Shakil, and Bollywood actress Veena Malik among others last month for committing alleged blasphemy in a mock wedding show on Geo Entertainment.
KEY POINTS:
- Supreme Court suspends GB court verdict
- Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman sentenced to 26 years
- Verdict challenged by advocate Khawaja Muhammad Harris
- Court argues against sentencing in absentia
- Decision impacts multiple individuals including Veena Malik
