NCHR takes up the case of ‘schizophrenic‘ prisoner

Saleem Ahmad, 63, is accused of murdering his sister in 2001, and was declared mentally healthy in 2002

ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) on Friday took up the case of Saleem Ahmad, a mentally ill, condemned prisoner currently lodged in the central jail of Lahore.

The move came after a sessions court in Lahore stayed the execution of the 63-year-old on November 5 and directed the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat central jail to produce a comprehensive report along with his medical report before the court in six to seven days.

Ahmad is accused of killing his sister, Nasreen Begum, in 2001 and was arrested on July 30 the same year, in Lahore. He was declared mentally healthy by Lahore Mental Hospital in 2002 and in 2004 his death orders were issued.



The court issued a black warrant for his execution according to which he was scheduled to be hanged on November 7 but later due to some legal issues it remained suspended.

While reviewing his case, NCHR Chairman Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan said the basic ground urged before the NCHR invoking the human rights jurisdiction of the Commission bestowed by Act XVI of 2012 is that the life of a schizophrenic patient cannot be taken away merely on the basis of a guess that he was mentally healthy at the time of the crime.

“That, whereas no proper tests have been conducted to remove any doubt whether he is really suffering from schizophrenia/mental disorder or not. If he is suffering from this mental condition, and this fact is established by a proper Medical Board to be ordered by the learned District and Sessions Judge Lahore, then the matter must come up for reconsideration with respect to the black warrant,” says the statement.



The NCHR chairman, in a statement, said that the commission was of the view that on the grounds of a mere doubt, without the scientific discovery of his mental condition, the life of a person cannot be taken away.

“Based on the information provided, the commission further feels that perfunctory reports of inquiries were placed that do not support the case of the prosecution until there is verification. It will be a safer course to remove all doubts now rather than to have regrets post-facto,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the commission has brought the matter to the notice of home secretary Punjab and the learned District and Sessions Judge Lahore so that the views of the commission in the interest of the life of a citizen are brought to their notice for sympathetic consideration and mercy,” the statement added.