Medical board to examine schizophrenic murder convict

SC asks Punjab AG to give names of independent psychiatrists, specialised doctors.

ISLAMABAD: The top court has decided to constitute a medical board to examine the health condition of a psychotic convict Imdad Ali – whose death warrant was suspended on Oct 31 – and has sought names of ‘independent’ psychiatrists and ‘specialised doctors of integrity’ from the Punjab advocate general.

The Supreme Court’s three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing on Monday a review petition, filed by Ali’s wife Safia Bano, against the court’s September 27 order, wherein it had declared that psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia do not subjugate the death sentence.

“We are inclined to consider such request, but for this purpose we need to have names of some independent psychiatrists and specialised doctors of integrity in this field,” the bench said.

“Learned advocate general Punjab is directed to submit a list of such doctors so that a proper medical board is constituted for this purpose,” it added. The SC also directed the law officer, representing jail superintendent to present Ali’s history-tickets after his conviction as an under trial prisoner.

The CJ observed that manipulation of papers was an easy task in the country and only authentic documents would be acceptable in the instant matter.  “The case record shows that the convict has replied accurately to questions of the trial court judge,” he added.

Later, the court was adjourned till November 16 (tomorrow).

Safia Bano in her review petition stated that the top court had relied upon the Indian court judgment, which was not applicable in Ali’s case, adding that Indian court sought to address as to whether a convict was suffering from any mental disorder.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2016.