The rationales behind the death penalty were the concepts of retribution and deterrence. Retribution, or revenge, has been a part of human society ever since its inception and most religions even gave it moral and legal cover. However, as society progressed it became clear that revenge begets revenge, even if carried out by state actors. After all, as Mahatama Gandhi once said “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind”. Therefore, to break the cycle of violence (which was often perpetrated by private individuals), religions, as well as states, began to delink the carrying out of capital punishment from the concept of revenge.
Thereafter, capital punishment became the preserve of the state and primarily a tool for deterrence. The argument went that the severity of the death penalty prevented people from committing a particular crime. However, research, as well as common sense, has clearly shown that the existence of the death penalty does not make any significant impact on the rate of crime. As a matter of fact, the incidence of major crime in Pakistan has actually increased since 1861 when the Penal Code was enforced with only a few crimes punishable by death today, when over two dozen crimes carry the death penalty. Quite obviously, crime has deeper social and economic roots and cannot simply be rooted out due to the existence of capital punishment.
Most importantly, capital punishment is wrong, simply because it is irrevocable and carries a chance, however a small one, that an innocent person might be executed. With a judicial system that is susceptible to miscarriages of justice, defective police investigation methods, high incidence of corruption and social and cultural prejudices against the poor, minorities and women, the chances that a death sentence is awarded because of any one of these deficiencies is really high in Pakistan. In such circumstances, it is only sensible that no such executions, even sentences, are carried out.
Moves towards the abolition, or at least restriction of the death penalty, are not completely modern or Western concepts. In Japan, the death penalty was abolished from 818 to 1156 under the influence of Shintoism. In more modern times, Leopold II of Tuscany banned capital punishment in 1786 and so the modern movement began in which by now, over half of the world has abolished the death penalty and several only use it in exceptional circumstances, while a number of them, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and the US still use it widely.
Ultimately, the opposition towards capital punishment deals with the dignity and worth of a human being. Are human beings so worthless that they can be executed, even if there is a reasonable chance that their conviction might be flawed? By taking someone’s life, can a crime really be prevented? Are people (victim’s family) actually ‘satisfied’ when they see someone else suffer the same fate their loved one did? All these questions, and more, must make us reflect on how we view ourselves and other humans.
Pakistan has finally made a break from the league of other failing states (and the US) and made a courageous step in having a moratorium on capital punishment. Limiting the death penalty and finally abolishing it is a sure sign of a civilised society. Even India, which we always compare ourselves with, declared that the death penalty should be reserved for the ‘rarest of rare cases’ and in the last 20 years, only two executions (in 1995 and in 2004) have taken place. In a country where the price on life is so low, maybe the government can lead the way in showing that people, even if criminals, are worthy of some respect.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (32)
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A very excellent article, well articulated. Unfortunately, Pakistani constitution binds it to adhere to Islamic laws. There is no escape from it. No humanistic and compassionate analysis can be part of Islamic punishment since all that is well-codified and can't be changed. Blasphemers, apostates,murderers and people committing other serious crimes are destined to be beheaded under Islamic laws. Women committing adultery can't escape death by stone throwing. Thieves deserve cutting off their arms. Dancing girls face cutting off of their legs.
Either the nation is Islamic or it is not. There is no in between according to Islamic laws.
@Asad Malik: Reread my comments and then reread your response to it .
@Cobra Commander: I have taken a class on crime control in the US and they all admit that their system is broken. Get your facts straight
Most of pakistan's problems can be solved by using this death penalty. So one last hope of justice for pakistan has gone..
Already people are not afraid and there are too many killings going on in Pakistan. By removing the punishment, they will become more blood thirsty and will keep on settling their score openly and will feel proud.
It would be quite naive to abolish the death penalty in Pakistan. Human life already has very little value in a country of over 200 million people. It wont hurt much if we were to do away with a few scum rotting in jail on tax money.
To the writer and all those who r in favor of abolishing the Death Penalty, i have a question for them all that if someone very dear to you like your father, brother, or son is murdered just for none, what will be your desire to be done with murderer,? will u want him to be punished or to left free? think and give a honest reply plz
Clear article, but this part:
"Ultimately, the opposition towards capital punishment deals with the dignity and worth of a human being. Are human beings so worthless that they can be executed, even if there is a reasonable chance that their conviction might be flawed?"
This is exactly the argument those in favor of capital punishment present. That life is held so sacred and valuable in society that the punishment for depriving someone of his or her life HAS to be this severe.
YES! I am so happy to read this! I am very pleased with this. May Pakistan become modern and western and loving and kind and gentle and beautiful and wealthy.
I can see lot of western diplomats and so called Civilised people who openly criticise Islam whenever they get a chance . Not to forget that today we are the victim of all these so called Civilised and so called Human Rights Representatives , who adopt the formula of Might is Right as and when they feel comfortable . Its the World and so called Civilised Contractor of Peace who have made this Muslim world a True Hell . Not to forget that Pakistan is an Islamic Country ,regardless of its problem and issues , the concept and basics are not Wrong. Better not to attach Terrorism and all the bad things with Islam . All the Terrorism and problems are exported by the Civilised nations into Muslm countries to make there Country Clean. Before we criticse the Nation/Country/Religion better change ourself . How much Humanity we have in ourselves, how much do we care for others , how much state Rights do we pay , how much tax and Tariff we all .... We all are a corrupt Nation , who feel proud to talk negative about Pakistan/ Islam and our system . Please study your Religion first before Criticising and play some constructive role to make this Country - A place to live.
no sir, an eye for an eye wont make the world blind. it will save the first, third, fifth..... eye
An absurd and totally western thought. Capital punishment, as told by Islam, is meant for a purpose. It can never fall in the category of violence. Please go through the concept of islamic punishments.
I think that taking the life of another human being, for whatever reason, is unfortunate but in many cases it's the most effective way out - not to mention that court trials and prison maintenance costs taxpayers' money. Besides, those who deserve the death penalty in this country are able to avoid it while innocents are killed anyway - more than anything it's proof of the weak grip of the law enforcement authorities. It's hardly a positive thing to talk about.
For some violent crimes, such as rape and violence against women, a more civilized and humane punishment should be considered, such as castration of the convicted criminals, before throwing them in jail for life.
Those convicted of "acid attacks" against women should face "Biblical justice" of "an eye for an eye", and the victim should be allowed an option of similarly throwing acid on her convicted attacker, before he is put behind bars for life (after, of course, proper medical treatment).
Those convicted off "honor killings", similarly deserve "an eye for an eye" justice.
Great Article as ever
You just cant abolish death penalty as long as you improve on your prosecution system..make sure if someone has done wrong he must be punished as per law..remember its not the punishment that prevents crime its the fear of punishment and unfortunately people dont fear punishment because you can always buy people...
I want nothing more than a secular and corruption free Pakistan but the abolishment of death penalty has no place in a civilized society. We do not have the resources to feed criminals with life in prison sentences.
What would you want to happen to someone who rapes a child or murders an innocent? Such creatures have no place in our society and no right to breath. Such animals need to be put down to purge our society. I'm saddened when I hear such pseudo liberal BS about how "progressive and civilized" societies move away from such practices.
In a society where a sitting PM can be hanged on trumped up charges what chance a poor man stand against being wrongly accused. People who use Quran to justify capital punishment forget to mention that Quran also emphasize on forgiveness and has a very stringent criteria for a person to be condemned to death. Even in US people are being released , after spending decades in jail, from death row as they were wrongly accused and prosecuted. In Pakistan where cops extract guilty verdicts by torturing suspects use of capital punishment should not be applied.
Gents please do not muddy this discussion by bringing drone attacks. Every discussion in Pakistan ends up discussing and abusing US in the end.
@Sameer: There is a lot of weight in your argument. However, there is not a single terrorist that has not been released by our court system. What are the other options if all of them are released without fail? Even Qadri who is supposed to be hanged still living like a hero in jail and the judge fled the country. If Pakistan were doing its job to contain terrorists and try them in courts and punish them then the drones might not be on the table. There is no simple or perfect solution to a complex problem. Not just drone attacks but all wars, bombings and shelling are unjust. Regards, Mirza
@Sameer: Drone strikes are murder.
If abolishing the death penalty is sign of being civil then U.S. must be the most uncivil country on this planet. Killing people without a day in court is surely a vile behavior.
good article.
Isn't drone strike different form of capital punishment, but without trial
Justice cannot be served unless crimes that call for capital punishment are taken seriously, and dealt with a firm hand, and if that means capital punishment, then so be it.
Besides, it cannot be denied that capital punishment, justly and properly applied, is an effective deterrent to serious violent crimes.
Thanks to Professor Bangash we now know that the main cause of the upsurge in violent crimes in our countr is the failure of the PPP government to enforce the law on capital punishment.
Of course the rulers have better things to do than to waste their precious time on such mundane matters of day to day governance.
At least now we have a confirmation of our worst fears.
@Mirza: I agree with every word you said. My comments are meant to convey the paradox of PAK and to taunt those who say sharia system of justice is better, in today's context of conflict around the world.
The death penalty in court system does not fit in 21 century civilization, and the punishment by the courts ignore the victim's loss. I am also not a proponent of life imprisonment either.
I am of the opinion that most crimes are manifestation of social injustices, barring some psychological issues such as serial rape or serial murder, and greed.
I think scandinavian system of criminal justice is a better solution over the stone age incarceration punishment that is practiced all around the world, US included.
Typical secular fundamentalist. Wanting to protect blasphemers and apostates from their just deserts.
As they say "we kill people who kill people because killing is wrong". How is that justified?
Death penalty should not be finished. NEVER
I find it very disturbing that not even a single line in this article addresses the concern that Quran has enforced the concept of capital punishment on to us. We must not forget that it is the word of Allah that defines what we do, and not Gandhi’s.
I am only defending the concept of capital punishment as a justice system of Allah and I care very less about its implementation in Pakistan. Pakistan has a judicial system that is designed to suit the rich and hunt the poor. Capital punishment in such a country will only earn Islam a bad name.
Lets not base our bias against concepts of Quran on poorly stated statistics and western belief system. The judicial system in Islam is fair and just for every individual regardless of how rich and poor. May Allah guide us all as a nation.
A discourse on the moral value attached to the use of the death penalty though appreciable, appears fairly redundant in a system that has difficulty in simply punishing blatant wrong doings.
Moratorium on death penalty or abolishing death penalty is not sharia compliant and PAK institutions are constitutionally bound to keep their policies in compliance with sharia.