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ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday suspended the death sentence of three hardcore terrorists, who were convicted by a military court.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sh Azmat Saeed and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel heard the appeals filed by the relatives of the convict.

Nargis Bibi, Laila and Muhammad Liaquat had filed the appeals in the Supreme Court on January 17, 2017.

Sabir Shah, Shafqat Farooq and Liaqat’s death sentence was confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff in February 2016. They later filed writ petitions against the death sentence in the Lahore High Court. It was their pleas that military court did not allow them to engage lawyers of their choice and it was not a fair trial.

However, the high court after six months dismissed their petitions.

The relatives of the convicts then approached the Supreme Court.

Sabir Shah, believed to be a member of a proscribed organisation, was convicted for his involvement in the sectarian killing of a lawyer, Syed Arshad Ali, in Lahore.

According to Laila, the mother of the convict, her son was a juvenile and was not given the right to fair trial.

Laiq Khan Swati, counsel of mother of Sabir, said after one-year the apex court had taken up their appeals.

He further said that when in the Anti-Terrorism Courts and the high courts, the accused is allowed to engage lawyers of their choice then why not in the military courts.

Laiq said that the convict has been languishing in the Sahiwal Jail for the last one-year.

The bench after hearing the arguments suspended the death sentence and adjourned the case for an indefinite period.