ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 : Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday stayed executions handed down by the country's controversial new military courts, set up in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school.
Lawmakers approved a change to the country's constitution in January to establish military courts to deal with terrorism cases, prompting concern from lawyers and rights activists.
The move came as part of government efforts to crack down on militants following the school slaughter in December which left more than 150 people dead -- Pakistan's bloodiest ever terror attack.
The army announced the first verdicts and sentences from the new courts earlier this month.
A 17-judge panel headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk suspended the executions on Thursday, after the Supreme Court Bar Association challenged the constitutional amendment that created the military courts.    ?AFP