In February, an appellate military court set aside...

In February, an appellate military court set aside the death sentence handed down by a summary military court to Mohammad Saleem, a 13-year- old boy who was among 4 people condemned to death on December 19 for killing 3 policemen in 1997. Headed by an army colonel, the court which found them guilty of terrorism after a 12-day trial, gave the convicts 3 days to appeal. The decision to condemn 13-year- old Saleem to death was sharply criticized by human rights groups and members of the lawyers' community. The appellate court also converted the death penalty for the 3 other convicts into life imprisonment.