Shariat Court on Mai case: Defence counsel criticises decision

Staff Report

MULTAN: Salim Malik, the defence counsel in Mukhtar Mai case, reacted to the Federal Shariat Court’s decision suspending the Lahore High Court’s sentence in the Mai case.

He said the court had no powers to suspend the verdict because both were of the same status. “The Federal Shariat Court can take action on its own under article 203-DD in cases where it is an appellate or reviewing court. Since the High Court is not its subordinate, the Federal Shariat Court cannot suspend the High Court decisions,” he said. “However, only the Supreme Court is authorised to suspend the verdict.”

Mian Abbas Ahmad, the Pakistan Bar Council’s former vice chairman, said the Federal Shariat Court had no authority to suspend the judgement. Special prosecutor Ramzan Khalid Joiya argued that the action was valid and appeals under the Hadood Law could be made in the court.

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