ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reserved its judgment on judicial reviews against death sentences awarded by military courts to five alleged terrorists. A five-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, on Monday resumed the hearing of Qari Zubair, Sher Alam, Mohammad Arbi, Fateh Muhammad and Aksan Mehboob. Asma Jehangir, counsel for Sher Alam, argued before the apex bench that the lawyers were not given access to the record of the trial. She said that she did not know under what law her client was taken into custody and whether the due course of law provided the same. She also said that according to the 21st Amendment the Army, Naval, and Air Force laws were protected but not the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation 2011. She said there was a violation of Article 10A and Rules 86, 87 of PAA 1954. She said that there was the question of people’s lives. “We are not defending terrorism and don’t want to follow the principle that terrorism breeds terrorism.” Responding to that Justice Azmat Saeed said: “We have sworn to defend the constitution.” Asma said that the lawyers were not given access to the record of trial of their clients. “I plead to show us the record.” Justice Amir Hani Muslim, another member, told Asma that the petitioners had never challenged the pre-trial or arrest, adding that the petitioners before the court were under a very limited scope. In the case of Qari Zubair, Advocate Khalid Afridi argued that his client was arrested from Esa Khel on August 16 2009 by the law enforcement agencies but the family came to about his death sentence in February this year, through an ISPR statement on the internment. Qari Zubair is alleged of attacking a mosque in Nowshera. Counsel Afridi contended that no FIR was lodged. Justice Azmat asked him that his client had not given him the full details about Qari Zubair as according to the record he was a member of the Pakistan Armed Forces. He was employed in the Punjab Regiment and later he made contacts with the Tehreek-e-Taliban. “You are not disclosing the fact learned counsel,” remarked Justice Azmat. Afridi said that Qari’s statement was recorded during the trial. He contended that no record was made available to him hence it was not a fair trial, malafide and without lawful authority. He said that there was not a single eye witness against Qari Zubair, therefore it was a case of no evidence. The confession made in the case was not a confession in accordance with the law. The counsel submitted that the army officials could not represent the convicts before the military courts under Army Act 1952. Additional Advocate General Attique Shah while representing the federation said that there was no violation of law and rules. He said that these persons were handed over to military courts after the 21st Amendment and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2015, adding that the federal government had referred their cases to military courts. The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday.