KARACHI – The general court martial’s (GCM) death sentence against a formernavy official in the PNS Zulfiqar attack case has been stayed by the SindhHigh Court.

Former Pakistan Navy lieutenant Hassham Naseer had filed a petition againsthis conviction by the GCM and the rejection of his appeal by the navy’scourt of appeals.

The petitioner, who joined the navy in 2008 and was posted at PNS Haider,was convicted along with other navy officers by the GCM in October 2015 forhis alleged involvement in facilitating al Qaeda inspired attackers whowanted to hijack PNS Zulfiqar on September 6, 2014.

The navy, however, thwarted the attack and killed four of the attackers whowere serving and former officials of the navy. The petitioner’s counseltold the court that his client was unlawfully detained for 11 months priorto his indictment by the GCM.