SC rejects Shafqat Hussain's appeal against IHC order

The hearing was adjourned till June 10 after Hussain’s counsel requested the bench some time to confirm information

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday rejected Shafqat Hussain's appeal against an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order.

The decision comes a day after the SC adjourned the hearing of Shafqat Hussain's plea against the IHC order which earlier rejected his plea. A stay on his execution was ordered on June 9.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk dismissed the plea on the grounds that the judgement on his death penalty had been reviewed and was finalised.

Read: SC adjourns Shafqat Hussain's appeal hearing till tomorrow

The hearing was adjourned till June 10 after Hussain’s counsel requested the bench some time to confirm whether his client’s execution was halted.

His execution was scheduled to be carried out at 4:30am on June 9 at Karachi Central Jail. This was the fourth time that his execution was postponed.

In a last-ditch effort to save Shafqat Hussain from the gallows, the death-row convict’s family and lawyers appealed to President Mamnoon Hussain to pardon him, while arguing that there has never been a credible investigation into his age at the time of his conviction.