Pakistani death row prisoner Zulfiqar Ali being transferred to Nusakambangan. PHOTO COURTESY: THE SUNDAY MORNING HERALD
The UN expressed alarm on Wednesday at the looming execution of 14 drug convicts in Indonesia, including a Pakistani, urging Jakarta to put an end to the “unjust” practice of capital punishment.
Around 14 people — including prisoners from Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Zimbabwe — were earlier this week given notice of their executions by firing squad.
The prisoners include 52-year-old Pakistani Zulfiqar Ali. “Kill me 10 times if I am found guilty. I’m ready for it. But if I am innocent then please spare my life,” Ali told DawnNews television channel on Wednesday.
“We don’t go to other countries to get involved in criminal activities,” he added as he urged Islamabad to take up the matter with Indonesian authorities. Activists lobbying on behalf of Ali claim that he was tortured into confessing a crime he did not commit. They are also considering appealing to Indonesian president for clemency.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2016.
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