Presidency considers commuting death sentences to life imprisonment

The presidency has asked relevant ministeries, authorities to present advice to Ministry of Law, Justice by August 13.


Ppi August 12, 2012
Presidency considers commuting death sentences to life imprisonment

KARACHI: The Presidency has begun to consider the possibility of commuting all death sentences into life imprisonment and has sought advice from relevant ministries and provincial authorities in this regard by August 13, revealed the former Federal Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney.

Burney, via his trust The Ansar Burney Trust International, has repeatedly sent petitions to President Asif Ali Zardari, requesting that all death sentences be commuted to life imprisonment considering that a large number of those on death row are either innocent or have already spent several decades awaiting the implementation of their sentence.

According to press release issued by Burney, a notice had been issued in July by the presidency to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, the Prime Minister's Secretariat, and the Chief Secretaries of all provinces to present views on the petitions and the possibility of commuting all death sentences into life imprisonment.

The notice issued by the presidency requests for advice from the various branches of government to be presented to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs by August 13 for consideration by the government, the release added.

There are currently over 7,500 prisoners in Pakistani jails condemned to death, including women and children. Many are innocent and victims of false testimonies or circumstances.

Hundreds of these prisoners were now physically and mentally disabled due to decades of imprisonment.

The president has either stayed or postponed executions in the past two years, including that of Behram Khan and Hafiz Jaleel Morejo.

COMMENTS (24)

Abdullah | 12 years ago | Reply I will appreciate president Asif Ali zardari because I know that capital punishment is an Islamic law but this Islamic law demands many requirements for implementation .most importantly pakista's law is not Islamic , it is roman law so implementation of capital punishment on any muslim accused under this roman law is very brutal act. Mostly accused are innocent and falsely involved. Our police culture is very dirty. They tortured the accused and threaten him to confess otherwise they involved his other family members . Our judicial system is also not reliable. Because bribery and personal references are big issues. Our judicial system is very slow. A case of death penalty punishment. takes 18 years to be finalised . So accused of death penalty punishment faces two punishments . First is life imprisonment and second is death penalty. So it is not justice. It is brutal society act. Any way I'm seeing so many blood thirsty people at this forum. First they have to learn about Islam . Islam is a religion of forgiveness .i know qasas is a right of victim hires but for qasas we need Islamic courts and islamic law. When an accused detained in judicial lockup for long 18 years then his hired spend this 18 long years in very ciritical situation . Between the jail and courts they gone mad. If someone says that it is an Islamic law I'm agree but Islamic law required Islamic rules for implementation. Islam does not required 18 years long jail period. Islam does not requires expensive lawyers from session court to supreme court. Islam does not requires police torture. Islamic punishment must be implement under Islamic law, Islamic courts and pure Islamic country. Under roman law Islamic punishment 's implementation is a very shamed act of society.
Gaffar Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply

I will agree with Asif Majeed we people need to think abot the poor and inocent people who are being hanged.I also recommend Asif Ali Zardari on this step.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ