SC forms medical board to examine schizophrenic prisoner Imdad Ali

The top court had stayed the prisoner’s death sentence over a petition to reconsider his case

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday formed a medical board to examine the condition of schizophrenic prisoner Imdad Ali, more than two weeks after his death warrant was suspended by the apex court.

The three-member board will be headed by Major General Saleem Jahangir, comprising Colonel (retd) Nadeem Abbas and Minhas Fareed Aslam, and will submit its report in the apex court in two weeks. The court subsequently adjourned hearing in the case for an indefinite period.



Earlier on Friday, Justice Amir Hani observed that Imdad Ali’s mental illness, if proved, wouldn’t quash his death sentence [earlier given] but will only be delayed until he is treated [for the illness].

On Monday, the SC decided to form a medical board to examine his condition. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali sought the names of five psychiatrists for the patient’s examination.

Justice Jamali observed the court had not denied that Imdad is suffering with schizophrenia and some NGOs were actively working towards halting his execution.

On October 31, the apex court stayed the execution of Imdad Ali, who was scheduled to be hanged on November 2.

In late October, on request of the Punjab government, Vehari sessions court issued a death warrant for the prisoner. The death warrant came days after SC ruled schizophrenia did not fall within its legal definition of mental disorders, clearing the way for the execution.



According to the court, schizophrenia is a mental illness in which a person becomes unable to link thought, emotion and behaviour, leading to the withdrawal from reality and personal relationships.

Ali’s wife, Safia Bano, had filed an application for the hearing of her husband’s case on October 31. “End of justice demand that (the) stay for death execution may kindly be heard on (an) urgent basis on October 31, because if the application is not heard on (the) same day, the petition would become infructuous and the husband of the petitioner would be hanged early in the morning on November 2,” she said in her application.