Black warrant: Convict to be executed on August 25

Accused is believed to have kidnapped a child and murdered the victim afterwards.

KARACHI: An execution date was announced on Tuesday for Shafqat Hussain, who was convicted in a murder case dating from 2004. He is believed to have kidnapped a child and murdered the victim afterwards. The case, based on FIR 136/2004 filed by the New Town police station, was heard by the Anti-Terrorism Court-III. Hussain also appealed to the high court and the Supreme Court, and his mercy petition to the presidency was rejected. He faced charges of murder and kidnapping for ransom under the Pakistan Penal Code and is also accused under sections 7 (a) and 7 (e) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The black warrant issued on Tuesday states August 25 as the date of execution, however it is unclear if this will go through given that there is an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2012.